Outer membrane lipoprotein sensing for T6SS retaliation.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses T6SS retaliation that is precisely responsive to T6SS attack through sensing by the outer membrane lipoprotein TagQ.

• Why it matters: T6SS helps Gram-negative bacteria outcompete neighbors in polymicrobial communities, but how cells detect an incoming T6SS attack and respond remained unclear.
• What they did: The work builds on prior findings showing that TagQ, an outer membrane lipoprotein, enables Pseudomonas aeruginosa to sense T6SS attack and mount a responsive use of its own T6SS.
• The result: This sensing mechanism supports accurate retaliation behavior, implying TagQ-linked detection can coordinate T6SS activity during interbacterial conflicts.

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