The Pseudomonas putida T6SS is a plant warden against phytopathogens
File(s)Bernal et al 2016 Accepted.pdf (8.22 MB) ismej2016169a.pdf (3.57 MB)
Accepted version
Published version
Author(s)
Bernal, P
Allsopp, LP
Filloux, AAM
Llamas, MA
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Bacterial type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are molecular weapons designed to deliver toxic effectors into prey cells. These nanomachines play an important role in inter-bacterial competition and provide advantages to T6SS active strains in polymicrobial environments. Here we analyse the genome of the biocontrol agent Pseudomonas putida KT2440 and identify three T6SS gene clusters (K1-, K2- and K3-T6SS). Besides, ten T6SS effector/immunity pairs were found, including putative nucleases and pore-forming colicins. We show that the K1-T6SS is a potent antibacterial device which secretes a toxic Rhs-type effector Tke2. Remarkably, P. putida eradicates a broad range of bacteria in a K1-T6SS-dependent manner, including resilient phytopathogens which demonstrates that the T6SS is instrumental to empower P. putida to fight against competitors. Furthermore, we observed a drastically reduced necrosis on the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana during co-infection with P. putida and Xanthomonas campestris. Such protection is dependent on the activity of the P. putida T6SS. Many routes have been explored to develop biocontrol agents capable of manipulating the microbial composition of the rhizosphere and phyllosphere. Here we unveil a novel mechanism for plant biocontrol which needs to be considered for the selection of plant wardens whose mission is to prevent phytopathogen infections.
Date Issued
2017-01-03
Date Acceptance
2016-10-20
Citation
The ISME Journal, 2017, 11, pp.972-987
ISSN
1751-7362
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
Start Page
972
End Page
987
Journal / Book Title
The ISME Journal
Volume
11
Copyright Statement
This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License. The images or other third party material in
this article are included in the article’s Creative
Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the
credit line; if the material is not included under the
Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain
permission from the license holder to reproduce the
material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License. The images or other third party material in
this article are included in the article’s Creative
Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the
credit line; if the material is not included under the
Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain
permission from the license holder to reproduce the
material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Sponsor
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Grant Number
BB/N02539/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Ecology
Microbiology
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
VI SECRETION SYSTEM
PROTEIN SECRETION
VIBRIO-CHOLERAE
ESCHERICHIA-COLI
INTESTINAL INFLAMMATION
IMMUNITY PROTEINS
GENOMIC ANALYSIS
ROOT MICROBIOME
HOST-RANGE
EFFECTORS
06 Biological Sciences
10 Technology
05 Environmental Sciences
Publication Status
Published