Bacteria’s hidden weapon: Toxins locked inside a capsule secured by a cork

The microbiome is home to an estimated 100 trillion bacteria, existing as a dense colony of many different strains and species. Similar to all organisms, bacteria must also compete with one another for space and resources, engaging in "warfare" by releasing toxins to kill competitors. One of the many weapons bacteria use in this inevitable fight is the type VI secretion system (T6SS), which delivers toxic effectors into their enemies.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/nzcD6hk