Bacterial type VI secretion system facilitates niche domination

Over the last few decades humanity has experienced a series of tremendous technological advances, especially in the realm of basic science. A plethora of new approaches has allowed us to appreciate life in previously unimaginable detail, prompting the realization that life in the microscopic world is not so different from what we can observe with our naked eyes. Microorganisms, for instance, like any other organism, compete with one another for resources and space. Bacteria often use simple mechanisms to occupy their niche such as rapid growth and biofilm formation. Bacteria also use ingenious strategies to maximize their success. Indeed, to engage in warfare, microorganisms often produce diffusible toxic antimicrobial compounds as well as other more complicated molecular weapons. During this process, effector proteins are delivered, which can intoxicate the target organism. These effectors have different functions but frequently target conserved bacterial or eukaryotic cellular structures such as the cell wall, the membrane compartment, nucleic acids, or the actin cytoskeleton.