The type VI secretion system governs strain maintenance in a wild mammalian gut microbiome
Beth A. Shen, Kyle L. Asfahl, Bentley Lim, Savannah K Bertolli, Samuel S. Minot, Matthew C. Radey, Kelsi M. Penewit, Billy Ngo, Stephen J. Salipante, Christopher D. Johnston, Snow Brook Peterson, Andrew L. Goodman, Joseph D. Mougous
This study shows the type VI secretion system (T6SS) in Bacteroides acidifaciens helps maintain its presence in a wild mouse gut microbiome by antagonizing other Bacteroidales, but its effect depends on ecological context.
eLife · Sep 15, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology