Flagella are required to activate expression of aggregation factors necessary for T6SS-mediated competition in host-like conditions.

Flagella are essential for activating aggregation factors necessary for T6SS-mediated competition in high-viscosity environments in Vibrio fischeri MJ11.

• Why it matters: Understanding how bacteria coordinate contact-dependent antagonistic strategies in viscous, host-like conditions is crucial for insights into microbial competition and colonization within host tissues.
• What they did: Researchers performed a genome-wide transposon mutant screen and transcriptomic analysis, revealing that flagella are not needed for T6SS expression in hydrogel but are required to enhance expression of about 50% of the genome, including surface modification and host colonization genes.
• The result: Flagella facilitate the coordination of competitive and colonization factors in viscous environments, suggesting they may sense mechanical signals to improve host colonization and interbacterial competition.