A ubiquitous mobile genetic element changes the antagonistic weaponry of a human gut symbiont

Madeline L. Sheahan, Katia Flores, Michael J. Coyne, Leonor García-Bayona, Maria Chatzidaki-Livanis, Andrea Q. Holst, Rita C. Smith, Anitha Sundararajan, Blanca Barquera, Laurie E. Comstock*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

DNA transfer is ubiquitous in the human gut microbiota, especially among species of the order Bacteroidales. In silico analyses have revealed hundreds of mobile genetic elements shared between these species, yet little is known about the phenotypes they encode, their effects on fitness, or pleiotropic consequences for the recipient's genome. In this work, we show that acquisition of a ubiquitous integrative conjugative element (ICE) encoding a type VI secretion system (T6SS) shuts down the native T6SS of Bacteroides fragilis. Despite inactivating this T6SS, ICE acquisition increases the fitness of the B. fragilis transconjugant over its progenitor by arming it with the new T6SS. DNA transfer causes the strain to change allegiances so that it no longer targets ecosystem members with the same element yet is armed for communal defense.
Original languageEnglish
JournalScience
Volume386
Issue number6720
Pages (from-to)414-420
Number of pages7
ISSN0036-8075
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

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