How bacteria attack rivals and share nutrients in communities using T6SS
Official title: Operating principles and consequences of T6SS mediated predation in microbial communities
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-11429702 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how bacteria aggress against neighbors and access nutrients through a weapon called T6SS in real-world-like communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | July 13, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $404,180 |
| NIH project number | 1R35GM165547-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11429702 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participation; the research uses bacterial models and microbiome concepts.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient involvement or immediate clinical benefit is expected.
What this research studies
The project looks at how bacterial predation via the Type VI secretion system shapes how microbes live together in mixed communities. Using realistic microfluidic setups, time-lapse imaging, and genetics, the team will connect gene activity to cell behavior and community dynamics. They study two model systems, including pathogens used strictly as model organisms, to understand principles that apply to natural microbiomes. The work aims to translate lab findings to broader ecological contexts without focusing on disease mechanisms. The study spans five years and combines experiments with evolutionary and genomic analyses to map how interactions influence community structure and nutrient cycling.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gaining a better understanding of how bacterial communities organize and compete could inform strategies to manage microbiomes in health, environment, and industry.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown T6SS can mediate interactions and predation-like behavior in bacteria, suggesting this approach can reveal general principles of microbial ecology.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dsouza, Glen Gerald — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Dsouza, Glen Gerald
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.