High temperatures increase the virulence of Vibrio bacteria towards their coral host and competing bacteria via type VI secretion systems

by Weiquan Wang, Kaihao Tang, Xiaoxue Wang

The bacterial pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus induces severe coral diseases in warming oceans. A study in PLOS Biology reveals that high temperatures activate 2 type VI secretion systems in V. coralliilyticus, enhancing pathogenicity by deploying toxic effectors against competing bacteria and coral cells. The bacterial pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus induces severe coral diseases in warming oceans. This Primer explores a PLOS Biology study revealing that high temperatures activate two type VI secretion systems in V. coralliilyticus, enhancing pathogenicity by deploying toxic effectors against competing bacteria and coral cells.