The project
The bacterial Type 6 secretion system (T6SS) is one of the largest dynamic assemblies in Gram-negative bacteria. It shares evolutionary origins with contractile phage tails and other extracellular contractile protein translocation nanomachines. Importantly, the unique mode of action of T6SS allows bacteria to deliver folded proteins across membranes of neighboring bacterial or eukaryotic cells (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-025-01256-w). Subcellular localization of T6SS assembly and timing of its firing is tightly regulated in various bacteria:
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Spatial positioning: Live-cell super-resolution imaging showed that Acinetobacter position their T6SS specifically at contact sites with neighboring bacteria (https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2021108595).
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Tit-for-tat response: Atomic force microscopy and live-cell imaging demonstrated that T6SS assembly in Pseudomonas responds to attacks by sensing membrane damage (https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adr1713).
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Host interaction: During infection, T6SS in Burkholderia assembles when bacteria are trapped in membrane protrusions, enabling cell-to-cell spread (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2024.03.013).
Despite these breakthroughs, we still lack a fundamental
mechanistic understanding of how
precise timing and spatial localization are achieved, and the
specific signals that trigger T6SS assembly remain unknown.
Learn more about our recent research: Basler Lab Group Overview and Google Scholar
