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The extracellular contractile injection system is enriched in environmental microbes and associates with numerous toxins

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Martin Geller

    (the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Inbal Pollin

    (the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • David Zlotkin

    (the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Aleks Danov

    (the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Nimrod Nachmias

    (the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • William B. Andreopoulos

    (San Jose State University)

  • Keren Shemesh

    (the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Asaf Levy

    (the Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Abstract

The extracellular Contractile Injection System (eCIS) is a toxin-delivery particle that evolved from a bacteriophage tail. Four eCISs have previously been shown to mediate interactions between bacteria and their invertebrate hosts. Here, we identify eCIS loci in 1,249 bacterial and archaeal genomes and reveal an enrichment of these loci in environmental microbes and their apparent absence from mammalian pathogens. We show that 13 eCIS-associated toxin genes from diverse microbes can inhibit the growth of bacteria and/or yeast. We identify immunity genes that protect bacteria from self-intoxication, further supporting an antibacterial role for some eCISs. We also identify previously undescribed eCIS core genes, including a conserved eCIS transcriptional regulator. Finally, we present our data through an extensive eCIS repository, termed eCIStem. Our findings support eCIS as a toxin-delivery system that is widespread among environmental prokaryotes and likely mediates antagonistic interactions with eukaryotes and other prokaryotes.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Martin Geller & Inbal Pollin & David Zlotkin & Aleks Danov & Nimrod Nachmias & William B. Andreopoulos & Keren Shemesh & Asaf Levy, 2021. "The extracellular contractile injection system is enriched in environmental microbes and associates with numerous toxins," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23777-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23777-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Maria Vladimirov & Ruo Xi Zhang & Stefanie Mak & Justin R. Nodwell & Alan R. Davidson, 2023. "A contractile injection system is required for developmentally regulated cell death in Streptomyces coelicolor," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Matthieu Haudiquet & Julie Bris & Amandine Nucci & Rémy A. Bonnin & Pilar Domingo-Calap & Eduardo P. C. Rocha & Olaya Rendueles, 2024. "Capsules and their traits shape phage susceptibility and plasmid conjugation efficiency," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.

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