Engineering a customizable antibacterial T6SS-based platform in Vibrio natriegens
Biswanath Jana, Kinga Keppel, Dor Salomon
Abstract
Bacterial pathogens are a major risk to human, animal, and plant health. To counteract the spread of antibiotic resistance, alternative antibacterial strategies are urgently needed. Here, we construct a proof-of-concept customizable, modular, and inducible antibacterial toxin delivery platform. By engineering a type VI secretion system (T6SS) that is controlled by an externally induced on/off switch, we transform the safe bacterium, Vibrio natriegens, into an effective antibacterial weapon. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the delivered effector repertoire, and thus the toxicity range of this platform, can be easily manipulated and tested. We believe that this platform can serve as a foundation for novel antibacterial bio-treatments, as well as a unique tool to study antibacterial toxins. The non-pathogenic marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens is transformed into an antibacterial toxin delivery platform via the introduction of an engineered type VI secretion system. The platform can also be utilized to study antibacterial effector proteins. The non-pathogenic marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens is transformed into an antibacterial toxin delivery platform via the introduction of an engineered type VI secretion system. The platform can also be utilized to study antibacterial effector proteins.