In:
eLife, eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd, Vol. 4 ( 2015-02-02)
Abstract:
Bacteria live in diverse and changing environments where resources such as nutrients and space are often limited. They have thus evolved many survival strategies, including competitive and cooperative behaviors. In the first case, bacteria antagonize or prevent the growth of other microorganisms competing with them for resources, such as by generating antibiotics that specifically target rivals. During cooperation, bacteria may coordinate the production of compounds that have a shared benefit for members of their community. In multicellular organisms, some cell types sense harmful microorganisms by the injury they cause in neighboring cells. This triggers a process that can lead to the production of molecules that kill the invaders and factors that promote the repair of cellular damage. An equivalent process has so far not been described for single-celled organisms such as bacteria. However, bacteria often live in structured groups containing many different species. In this type of growth environment, the ability of bacteria to sense when others of their species are attacked and to respond by taking measures to defend themselves could improve their chances of survival. Now, LeRoux et al. reveal that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is able to detect ‘danger signals’ released when neighboring P. aeruginosa cells are killed by other bacteria. These signals trigger a response in surviving cells by turning on a pathway that controls a number of antibacterial factors. These include the production of the so-called ‘type VI secretion system’, a molecular machine that delivers a potent cocktail of antibacterial toxins directly into nearby bacteria. This process, which LeRoux et al. have named ‘P. aeruginosa response to antagonism’, or PARA for short, enables P. aeruginosa to thrive when grown with competing bacterial species. P. aeruginosa is notorious for infecting the lungs of people with the genetic disease cystic fibrosis, as well as chronic wounds often found in people with diabetes. In both cases, when P. aeruginosa is present, the numbers of other, often less harmful organisms, tend to decrease. PARA may be one reason for the success of P. aeruginosa in these multi-species infections.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2050-084X
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.001
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.002
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.003
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.004
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.005
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.006
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.007
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.008
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.009
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.010
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.011
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.012
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.013
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.014
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.015
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.016
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.017
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.018
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.019
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.020
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.021
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.022
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.023
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.024
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.025
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.026
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.027
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.028
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.029
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.030
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.031
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.05701.032
Language:
English
Publisher:
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Publication Date:
2015
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2687154-3
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