One Bacterial Tool, Two Targets: How Microbes Fight Off Competitors

Microbes like bacteria and fungi usually live together in complex communities, where they either help or compete with each other. One way some bacteria gain an edge is by using a system called the Type VI secretion system (T6SS), which acts like a molecular spear to inject toxic proteins into rival bacteria. As part of a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award, we’ve been exploring how this same system can also target fungi. Our research has uncovered the first T6SS proteins that specifically attack fungal cells, killing them through unique mechanisms. In this talk, I’ll share our latest findings on one of these newly discovered effector proteins from molecular structure to cellular function.