ArticlePLoS biology2025
A new class of type VI secretion system effectors can carry two toxic domains and are recognized through the WHIX motif for export.
Article in PLoS biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- GeoEPred: A multimodal structure-aware geometric deep learning framework for Gram-negative bacterial secreted effector prediction with sequence semantics.PLoS computational biology · 2026Article
- Molecular basis of type VI secretion system effector loading.Nature microbiology · 2026Article
- The type VI secretion system and associated effector proteins.Nature reviews. Microbiology · 2026Review
- Tke5 is a Pseudomonas putida toxin that kills plant pathogens by depolarising membranes.Communications biology · 2026Article
- Type VI secretion system degeneration accelerates intestinal epithelial cell death in Escherichia coli O157:H7.PLoS pathogens · 2026Article
- The type VI secretion system of Acinetobacter: mechanisms, biology and therapeutic potential.Communications biology · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
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Abstract
Gram-negative bacteria employ the type VI secretion system (T6SS) to deliver toxic effectors into neighboring cells and outcompete rivals. Although many effectors have been identified, their secretion mechanism often remains unknown. Here, we describe WHIX, a domain sufficient to mediate the secretion of effectors via the T6SS. Remarkably, we find WHIX in T6SS effectors that contain a single toxic domain, as well as in effectors that contain two distinct toxic domains fused to either side of WHIX. We demonstrate that the latter, which we name double-blade effectors, require two cognate immunity proteins to antagonize their toxicity. Furthermore, we show that WHIX can be used as a chassis for T6SS-mediated secretion of multiple domains. Our findings reveal a new class of polymorphic T6SS cargo effectors with a unique secretion domain that can deploy two toxic domains in one shot, possibly reducing recipients' ability to defend themselves.
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