Specialized Listeria monocytogenes produce tailocins to provide a population-level competitive growth advantage.
Nat Microbiol
; 9(10): 2727-2737, 2024 Oct.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39300324
ABSTRACT
Tailocins are phage tail-like bacteriocins produced by various bacterial species to kill kin competitors. Given that tailocin release is dependent upon cell lysis, regulation of tailocin production at the single-cell and population level remains unclear. Here we used flow cytometry, competition assays and structural characterization of tailocin production in a human bacterial pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes. We revealed that a specialized subpopulation, constituting less than 1% of the total bacterial population, differentiates to produce, assemble and store thousands of tailocin particles. Tailocins are packed in a highly ordered manner, clustered in a liquid crystalline phase that occupies a substantial volume of the cell. Tailocin production confers a competitive growth advantage for the rest of the population. This study provides molecular insights into tailocin production as a form of altruism, showing how cell specialization within bacterial populations can confer competitive advantages at the population level.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Bacteriocinas
/
Listeria monocytogenes
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nat Microbiol
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Israel
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido