Type VI secretion system killing by commensal Neisseria is influenced by the spatial dynamics of bacteria

Abstract

Type VI Secretion Systems (T6SS) are widespread in bacteria and can dictate the development and organisation of polymicrobial ecosystems by mediating contact dependent killing. In Neisseria species, including Neisseria cinerea a commensal of the human respiratory tract, interbacterial contacts are mediated by Type four pili (Tfp) which promote formation of aggregates and govern the spatial dynamics of growing Neisseria microcolonies. Here we show that N. cinerea expresses a plasmid-encoded T6SS that is active and can limit growth of related pathogens. We explored the impact of Tfp expression on N. cinerea T6SS-dependent killing and show that expression of Tfp by prey strains enhances their susceptibility to T6SS, by keeping them in close proximity of T6SS-wielding attacker strains. Our findings have important implications for understanding how spatial constraints during contact-dependent antagonism can shape the evolution of microbial communities.