M. Blokesch

Molecular mechanism of plasmid elimination by the DdmDE defense system

This study uses cryo-EM to elucidate the mechanism of plasmid elimination by the DdmDE defense system in Vibrio cholerae.

Capsular Polysaccharide Restrains Type VI Secretion in Acinetobacter baumannii

This study shows that capsular polysaccharide in Acinetobacter baumannii reduces both its own and rival bacteria's T6SS efficacy, with increased CPS production exacerbating self-T6SS impairment.

Vibrio cholerae pathogenicity island 2 encodes two distinct types of restriction systems

This study identifies a novel restriction system within Vibrio cholerae pathogenicity island 2 that targets non-methylated plasmids and has anti-phage activity against Tevenvirinae phages.

Interactions between pili affect the outcome of bacterial competition driven by the type VI secretion system

This study shows that pili-mediated interactions in V. cholerae reduce population size via T6SS-dependent competition, with pilus diversity affecting contact likelihood and T6SS-mediated outcomes.

DNA modifications impact natural transformation of Acinetobacter baumannii

This study shows that DNA methylation patterns in Acinetobacter baumannii affect natural transformation and horizontal gene transfer, with specific methylation signatures influencing the uptake of foreign DNA.

A single nucleotide polymorphism determines constitutive versus inducible type VI secretion in Vibrio cholerae

This study identifies a SNP in V. cholerae that determines whether the T6SS is constitutive or inducible, independent of known regulators.

The VarA-CsrA regulatory pathway influences cell shape in Vibrio cholerae

This study identifies a link between the VarA-CsrA regulatory pathway and cell shape in Vibrio cholerae, showing that varA mutants exhibit spherical morphology due to altered peptidoglycan composition.

Interbacterial competition and anti-predatory behavior of environmental Vibrio cholerae strains

This study investigates how environmental Vibrio cholerae strains use the T6SS and hemolysin to resist amoebal predation and compete with other bacteria, revealing diverse T6SS effector and immunity modules.

Neighbor predation linked to natural competence fosters the transfer of large genomic regions in Vibrio cholerae

This study shows that Vibrio cholerae uses type VI secretion system-mediated neighbor predation to acquire large DNA fragments (>150 kbp) from non-kin bacteria, facilitating significant horizontal gene transfer.

Conserved type VI secretion regulation in diverse Vibrio species by the regulatory proteins TfoX and TfoY

This study shows that TfoX and TfoY regulate T6SS in diverse Vibrio species, with TfoX controlling T6SS in all tested species and TfoY having varied effects on T6SS systems.

DNA-uptake pilus of Vibrio cholerae capable of kin-discriminated auto-aggregation

This study shows that DNA-uptake pili in Vibrio cholerae mediate kin-discriminated auto-aggregation and inter-bacterial interactions during surface colonization.

QstR-dependent regulation of natural competence and type VI secretion in Vibrio cholerae

This study identifies the QstR regulon in Vibrio cholerae and shows QstR functions as a dual transcription factor independent of c-di-GMP, regulating natural competence and type VI secretion.

Molecular insights into Vibrio cholerae’s intra-amoebal host-pathogen interactions

This study identifies molecular mechanisms enabling Vibrio cholerae to replicate within amoebae and escape, highlighting the role of minor virulence factors in its aquatic survival.