Tao Dong

Scopus Publications

Not just passengers: effectors contribute to the assembly of the type VI secretion system as structural building blocks
Sherina Dyrma, Tong-Tong Pei, Xiaoye Liang, Tao Dong
Journal of Bacteriology, 2025
Protein secretion systems are critical macromolecular machines employed by bacteria to interact with diverse environments and hosts during their life cycle. Cytosolically produced protein effectors are translocated across at least one membrane to the outside of the cells or directly into target cells. In most secretion systems, these effectors are mere passengers in unfolded or folded states. However, the type VI secretion system (T6SS) stands out as a powerful contractile device that requires some of its effectors as structural components. This review aims to provide an updated view of the diverse functions of effectors, especially focusing on their roles in T6SS assembly, the implications for T6SS engineering, and the potential of recently developed T6SS models to study effector-T6SS association.
Non-adapted bacterial infection suppresses plant reproduction
Jing-Ting Yang, Zhi-Min Tan, Yu-Tong Jiang, Yu-Xuan Bai, Yan-Jie Zhang, et al.
Science Advances, 2025
Environmental stressors, including pathogens, substantially affect the growth of host plants. However, how non-adapted bacteria influence nonhost plants has not been reported. Here, we reveal that infection of Arabidopsis flowers by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae PXO99A, a bacterial pathogen causing rice blight disease, suppresses ovule initiation and reduces seed number without causing visible disease symptoms. TleB, secreted by the type VI secretion system (T6SS), interacts with plant E3 ligase PUB14 and disrupts the function of the PUB14-BZR1 module, leading to decreased ovule initiation and seed yield. On the other site, PUB14 concurrently promotes TleB’s degradation. Our findings indicate that bacterial infections in nonhost plants directly repress offspring production. The regulatory mechanism by effectors PUB14-BZR1 is widely present, suggesting that plants may balance reproduction and defense and produce fewer offspring to conserve resources, thus enabling them to remain in a standby mode prepared for enhanced resistance.
Root hair developmental regulators orchestrate drought triggered microbiome changes and the interaction with beneficial Rhizobiaceae
Zhenghong Wang, Zewen Li, Yujie Zhang, Jingye Liao, Kaixiang Guan, et al.
Nature Communications, 2024
The “Microplastome” - A Holistic Perspective to Capture the Real-World Ecology of Microplastics
Changchao Li, Xinyu Li, Michael S. Bank, Tao Dong, James Kar-Hei Fang, et al.
Environmental Science and Technology, 2024
Microplastic pollution, an emerging pollution issue, has become a significant environmental concern globally due to its ubiquitous, persistent, complex, toxic, and ever-increasing nature. As a multifaceted and diverse suite of small plastic particles with different physicochemical properties and associated matters such as absorbed chemicals and microbes, future research on microplastics will need to comprehensively consider their multidimensional attributes. Here, we introduce a novel, conceptual framework of the “microplastome”, defined as the entirety of various plastic particles (<5 mm), and their associated matters such as chemicals and microbes, found within a sample and its overall environmental and toxicological impacts. As a novel concept, this paper aims to emphasize and call for a collective quantification and characterization of microplastics and for a more holistic understanding regarding the differences, connections, and effects of microplastics in different biotic and abiotic ecosystem compartments. Deriving from this lens, we present our insights and prospective trajectories for characterization, risk assessment, and source apportionment of microplastics. We hope this new paradigm can guide and propel microplastic research toward a more holistic era and contribute to an informed strategy for combating this globally important environmental pollution issue.
Filamentous prophage Pf4 promotes genetic exchange in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Tong-Tong Pei, Han Luo, Yuanyuan Wang, Hao Li, Xing-Yu Wang, et al.
Isme Journal, 2024
Filamentous prophages are widespread among bacteria and play crucial functions in virulence, antibiotic resistance, and biofilm structures. The filamentous Pf4 particles, extruded by an important pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can protect producing cells from adverse conditions. Contrary to the conventional belief that the Pf4-encoding cells resist reinfection, we herein report that the Pf4 prophage is reciprocally and commonly exchanged within P. aeruginosa colonies, which can repair defective Pf4 within the community. By labeling the Pf4 locus with antibiotic resistance and fluorescence markers, we demonstrate that the Pf4 locus is frequently exchanged within colony biofilms, in artificial sputum media, and in infected mouse lungs. We further show that Pf4 trafficking is a rapid process and capable of rescuing Pf4-defective mutants. The Pf4 phage is highly adaptable and can package additional DNA doubling its genome size. We also report that two clinical P. aeruginosa isolates are susceptible to the Pf4-mediated exchange, and the Pf5 prophage can be exchanged between cells as well. These findings suggest that the genetic exchanging interactions by filamentous prophages may facilitate defect rescue and the sharing of prophage-dependent benefits and costs within the P. aeruginosa community.
Thymol-loaded polylactic acid electrospun fibrous membranes with synergistic biocidal and anti-bacterial adhesion properties via morphology control
Xiao-Yan Wang, Md. Mehadi Hassan, Xiao He, Guichun Hu, Yuxuan Ren, et al.
Colloids and Surfaces A Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2023
Differential plant cell responses to Acidovorax citrulli T3SS and T6SS reveal an effective strategy for controlling plant-associated pathogens
Yumin Kan, Yanjie Zhang, Wenhui Lin, Tao Dong
Mbio, 2023
Acidovorax citrulli is a gram-negative plant pathogen that employs the type Ⅲ secretion system (T3SS) to infect cucurbit crops and cause bacterial fruit blotch. This bacterium also possesses an active type Ⅵ secretion system (T6SS) with strong antibacterial and antifungal activities. However, how plant cells respond to these two secretion systems and whether there is any cross talk between T3SS and T6SS during infection remain unknown. Here, we employ transcriptomic analysis to compare cellular responses to the T3SS and the T6SS during in planta infection and report distinctive effects on multiple pathways. The T3SS-mediated differentially expressed genes were enriched in the pathways of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant-pathogen interaction, MAPK signaling pathway, and glutathione metabolism, while the T6SS uniquely affected genes were related to photosynthesis. The T6SS does not contribute to the in planta virulence of A. citrulli but is critical for the survival of the bacterium when mixed with watermelon phyllosphere bacteria. In addition, T3SS-mediated virulence is independent of the T6SS, and the inactivation of the T3SS does not affect the T6SS-mediated competition against a diverse set of bacterial pathogens that commonly contaminate edible plants or directly infect plants. A T6SS-active T3SS-null mutant (Ac av ) could inhibit the growth of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae significantly both in vitro and in vivo and also reduce symptoms of rice bacterial blight. In conclusion, our data demonstrate the T6SS in A. citrulli is nonpathogenic to the plant host and can be harnessed as a pathogen killer against plant-associated bacteria. IMPORTANCE Chemical pesticides are widely used to protect crops from various pathogens. Still, their extensive use has led to severe consequences, including drug resistance and environmental contamination. Here, we show that an engineered T6SS-active, but avirulent mutant of Acidovorax citrulli has strong inhibition capabilities against several pathogenic bacteria, demonstrating an effective strategy that is an alternative to chemical pesticides for sustainable agricultural practices.
Wood-inspired polypyrrole/cellulose aerogels with vertically aligned channels prepared by facile freeze-casting for efficient interfacial solar evaporation
Yuxuan Ren, Rufan Zhou, Tao G. Dong, Qingye Lu
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2023
A wood-inspired PPy/CA composite with vertically aligned channels was fabricated as a high-performance solar evaporator. The composite could decrease the energy demand for water evaporation and exhibited good stability in saline water.
Systematic Review of Material and Structural Design in Interfacial Solar Evaporators for Clean Water Production
Yuxuan Ren, Rufan Zhou, Ruijie Yang, Tao G. Dong, Qingye Lu
Solar Rrl, 2023
Rational and sustainable utilization of resources is critical for the continuous development of this society. Solar energy, as one of the renewables, shows great potential in replacing part of the traditional energy supplies since it is clean, abundant, and easily convertible to thermal, electrical, and biological energies. Using solar energy as the green driving force, interfacial solar evaporation is a promising way for clean water production to alleviate global water shortage, taking advantage of its high evaporation efficiency (more than 80%) and strong adaptability toward various water sources and fields. In recent years, various kinds of materials with diverse designs have been synthesized and applied in interfacial solar evaporation for clean water production. Herein, recent progress in interfacial solar evaporators for clean water production is systematically reviewed, based on the photothermal conversion mechanisms of solar absorbers, including carbonous, semiconductor‐based, and plasmatic ones. Furthermore, key design factors and strategies in interfacial solar evaporators are reviewed and discussed from material and structural design point of view, such as water transport, thermal management, latent heat for water vaporization, and salt accumulation. Finally, some perspectives related to resolving existing problems in the field are given.
A Dueling-Competent Signal-Sensing Module Guides Precise Delivery of Cargo Proteins into Target Cells by Engineered Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Li-Li Wu, Shuangquan Yan, Tong-Tong Pei, Ming-Xuan Tang, Hao Li, et al.
ACS Synthetic Biology, 2023
VgrG Spike Dictates PAAR Requirement for the Assembly of the Type VI Secretion System
Xiaoye Liang, Hao-Yu Zheng, Ya-Jie Zhao, Yi-Qiu Zhang, Tong-Tong Pei, et al.
Journal of Bacteriology, 2023
Advances in assembly mechanisms and functions of bacterial type VI secretion system effectors
Acta Microbiologica Sinica, 2023
Stress responses modulate bacterial competitive fitness in polymicrobial communities
Ming-Xuan Tang, Sherina Dyrma, Tao Dong
Stress Immunology and Inflammation Handbook of Stress Series Volume 5, 2023
Pesticin-Like Effector VgrG3cp Targeting Peptidoglycan Delivered by the Type VI Secretion System Contributes to Vibrio cholerae Interbacterial Competition
Ming Liu, Meng-Yu Zhao, Heng Wang, Zeng-Hang Wang, Zhao Wang, et al.
Microbiology Spectrum, 2023
Acquisition of T6SS Effector TseL Contributes to the Emerging of Novel Epidemic Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Anmin Ren, Minlu Jia, Jihong Liu, Tian Zhou, Liwen Wu, et al.
Microbiology Spectrum, 2023
Green synthesis of Ag/lignin nanoparticle-loaded cellulose aerogel for catalytic degradation and antimicrobial applications
Xiao He, Haeun Kim, Tao G. Dong, Ian Gates, Qingye Lu
Cellulose, 2022
Heterologous Assembly of the Type VI Secretion System Empowers Laboratory Escherichia coli with Antimicrobial and Cell Penetration Capabilities
Yang Cui, Tong-Tong Pei, Xiaoye Liang, Hao Li, Hao-Yu Zheng, et al.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2022
Essential functions of chaperones and adaptors of protein secretion systems in Gram-negative bacteria
Kevin Manera, Fatima Kamal, Brianne Burkinshaw, Tao G. Dong
FEBS Journal, 2022
Abiotic factors modulate interspecies competition mediated by the type VI secretion system effectors in Vibrio cholerae
Ming-Xuan Tang, Tong-Tong Pei, Qi Xiang, Zeng-Hang Wang, Han Luo, et al.
Isme Journal, 2022
Delivery of an Rhs-family nuclease effector reveals direct penetration of the gram-positive cell envelope by a type VI secretion system in Acidovorax citrulli
Tong‐Tong Pei, Yumin Kan, Zeng‐Hang Wang, Ming‐Xuan Tang, Hao Li, et al.
Mlife, 2022
A -lightweight, mechanically strong, and shapeable copper-benzenedicarboxylate/cellulose aerogel for dye degradation and antibacterial applications
Yuxuan Ren, Steven J. Hersch, Xiao He, Rufan Zhou, Tao G. Dong, et al.
Separation and Purification Technology, 2022
More Than Just a Spearhead: Diverse Functions of PAAR for Assembly and Delivery of Toxins of the Contractile Injection Systems
Hao-Yu Zheng, Liang Yang, Tao Dong
Msystems, 2021
Identification of Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Pathogen Box against Vibrio cholerae
Haeun Kim, Brianne J. Burkinshaw, Linh G. Lam, Kevin Manera, Tao G. Dong
Microbiology Spectrum, 2021
VgrG-dependent effectors and chaperones modulate the assembly of the type VI secretion system
Xiaoye Liang, Tong-Tong Pei, Hao Li, Hao-Yu Zheng, Han Luo, et al.
Plos Pathogens, 2021
Contact-independent killing mediated by a T6SS effector with intrinsic cell-entry properties
Li Song, Junfeng Pan, Yantao Yang, Zhenxing Zhang, Rui Cui, et al.
Nature Communications, 2021

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Gene-in-gene coding generates dual-isoform Fha condensates to control type VI secretion system assembly
TT Pei, QY Chen, XY Wang, A Ma, JX Liang, ZY Ye, YZ Liu, JT Su, ...
Nature Communications , 2026
2026
A programmable Aeromonas chassis, AMAX2, for advanced biomanufacturing
MX Tang, YZ Liu, JX Liang, RL Huang, X Pu, CC Liang, ZY Tang, TT Pei, ...
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, e00231-26 , 2026
2026
Gene-in-gene coding generates a dual-isoform condensate that promotes the ecological resilience of Vibrio cholerae
TT Pei, QY Chen, XY Wang, A Ma, JX Liang, ZY Ye, YZ Liu, JT Su, ...
LangTaoSha Preprint Server , 2026
2026
Reprogrammed SimCells for antimicrobial therapy
Y Dong, X Ji, T Dong, Y Wang, E Bakkeren, KR Foster, WE Huang
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 123 (12), e2517118123 , 2026
2026
Functional activation reveals a repressor-gated fourth type VI secretion system in clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa
L Wu, Y Liu, R Huang, Y Zhao, J Liu, Y An, J Su, Y Zhang, X Wang, ...
bioRxiv, 2026.02. 12.705469 , 2026
2026
Mg 2+ in drinking water boosts Salmonella infection risk by rewiring gut ecology and virulence
T Liu, T Dong, T Zhang, X Bai
Nature Water, 1-13 , 2026
2026
TssW-PpkA-Fha axis controls the positioning and initiation of the type VI secretion system in Acidovorax citrulli
TT Pei, XY Wang, ZY Ye, YQ Zhang, JT Su, H Luo, YJ Zhao, HY Zheng, ...
mBio 16 (11), e01879-25 , 2025
2025
Citations: 1
A broad-spectrum anti-fungal effector dictates bacterial-fungal interkingdom interactions
S Yan, Y Zou, T Wu, Y Kan, H Luo, TT Pei, X Liang, Y An, P Meng, Y Song, ...
PLoS pathogens 21 (10), e1013598 , 2025
2025
Citations: 2
Dissecting the antibacterial functions of the T6SS-2 cluster in Xanthomonas oryzae for environment and plant protection
ZM Tan, X Zheng, J Su, JS Liu, X Liang, TT Pei, T Dong
Applied and Environmental Microbiology 91 (10), e01021-25 , 2025
2025
A phospholipase effector of the type VI secretion system modulates plant reproduction
ZM Tan, JT Yang, QJ Xiao, JT Su, ZH Wang, YT Jiang, JS Liu, TT Pei, ...
Mbio 16 (9), e01546-25 , 2025
2025
Citations: 1
Aeromonas spp. as a fast-growing high-performance chassis for protein production
MX Tang, PF Meng, RL Huang, X Zheng, CC Liang, X Pu, C Wang, ...
Applied and Environmental Microbiology 91 (7), e00780-25 , 2025
2025
Citations: 2
Fha initiates the inside-out assembly of the type VI secretion system
TT Pei, XY Wang, YQ Zhang, Y An, H Luo, Y Kan, H Li, MX Tang, ZY Ye, ...
Cell Reports 44 (7) , 2025
2025
Citations: 2
Not just passengers: effectors contribute to the assembly of the type VI secretion system as structural building blocks
S Dyrma, TT Pei, X Liang, T Dong
Journal of Bacteriology 207 (3), e00455-24 , 2025
2025
Citations: 9
Amidase and lysozyme dual functions in TseP reveal a new family of chimeric effectors in the type VI secretion system
ZH Wang, Y An, T Zhao, TT Pei, DY Wang, X Liang, W Qin, T Dong
elife 13, RP101125 , 2025
2025
Citations: 5
Non-adapted bacterial infection suppresses plant reproduction
JT Yang, ZM Tan, YT Jiang, YX Bai, YJ Zhang, HW Xue, TD Xu, T Dong, ...
Science Advances 11 (2), eads7738 , 2025
2025
Citations: 9
Filamentous prophage Pf4 promotes genetic exchange in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
TT Pei, H Luo, Y Wang, H Li, XY Wang, YQ Zhang, Y An, LL Wu, J Ma, ...
The ISME Journal 18 (1), wrad025 , 2024
2024
Citations: 14
Stress responses modulate bacterial competitive fitness in polymicrobial communities
MX Tang, S Dyrma, T Dong
Stress: Immunology and Inflammation, 161-171 , 2024
2024
Citations: 4
LLPS condensates of Fha initiate the inside-out assembly of the type VI secretion system
TT Pei, Y An, XY Wang, H Luo, Y Kan, H Li, MX Tang, ZY Ye, JX Liang, ...
bioRxiv, 2023.12. 21.572528 , 2023
2023
Citations: 1
Differential plant cell responses to Acidovorax citrulli T3SS and T6SS reveal an effective strategy for controlling plant-associated pathogens
Y Kan, Y Zhang, W Lin, T Dong
MBio 14 (4), e00459-23 , 2023
2023
Citations: 22
VgrG spike dictates PAAR requirement for the assembly of the type VI secretion system
X Liang, HY Zheng, YJ Zhao, YQ Zhang, TT Pei, Y Cui, MX Tang, P Xu, ...
Journal of Bacteriology 205 (2), e00356-22 , 2023
2023
Citations: 16

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

A view to a kill: the bacterial type VI secretion system
BT Ho, TG Dong, JJ Mekalanos
Cell host & microbe 15 (1), 9-21 , 2014
2014
Citations: 753
Identification of T6SS-dependent effector and immunity proteins by Tn-seq in Vibrio cholerae
TG Dong, BT Ho, DR Yoder-Himes, JJ Mekalanos
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110 (7), 2623-2628 , 2013
2013
Citations: 389
Manganese scavenging and oxidative stress response mediated by type VI secretion system in Burkholderia thailandensis
M Si, C Zhao, B Burkinshaw, B Zhang, D Wei, Y Wang, TG Dong, X Shen
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114 (11), E2233-E2242 , 2017
2017
Citations: 281
Role of RpoS in virulence of pathogens
T Dong, HE Schellhorn
Infection and immunity 78 (3), 887-897 , 2010
2010
Citations: 257
Identification of divergent type VI secretion effectors using a conserved chaperone domain
X Liang, R Moore, M Wilton, MJQ Wong, L Lam, TG Dong
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112 (29), 9106-9111 , 2015
2015
Citations: 195
Generation of reactive oxygen species by lethal attacks from competing microbes
TG Dong, S Dong, C Catalano, R Moore, X Liang, JJ Mekalanos
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112 (7), 2181-2186 , 2015
2015
Citations: 192
Global effect of RpoS on gene expression in pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain EDL933
T Dong, HE Schellhorn
BMC genomics 10 (1), 349 , 2009
2009
Citations: 183
RpoS regulation of gene expression during exponential growth of Escherichia coli K12
T Dong, MG Kirchhof, HE Schellhorn
Molecular Genetics and Genomics 279 (3), 267-277 , 2008
2008
Citations: 165
Control of RpoS in global gene expression of Escherichia coli in minimal media
T Dong, HE Schellhorn
Molecular Genetics and Genomics 281 (1), 19-33 , 2009
2009
Citations: 164
A type VI secretion system effector delivery mechanism dependent on PAAR and a chaperone–co-chaperone complex
BJ Burkinshaw, X Liang, M Wong, ANH Le, L Lam, TG Dong
Nature microbiology 3 (5), 632-640 , 2018
2018
Citations: 158
Characterization of the RpoN regulon reveals differential regulation of T6SS and new flagellar operons in Vibrio cholerae O37 strain V52
TG Dong, JJ Mekalanos
Nucleic acids research 40 (16), 7766-7775 , 2012
2012
Citations: 144
The type VI secretion system engages a redox-regulated dual-functional heme transporter for zinc acquisition
M Si, Y Wang, B Zhang, C Zhao, Y Kang, H Bai, D Wei, L Zhu, L Zhang, ...
Cell reports 20 (4), 949-959 , 2017
2017
Citations: 141
Envelope stress responses defend against type six secretion system attacks independently of immunity proteins
SJ Hersch, N Watanabe, MS Stietz, K Manera, F Kamal, B Burkinshaw, ...
Nature microbiology 5 (5), 706-714 , 2020
2020
Citations: 138
Antagonistic regulation of motility and transcriptome expression by RpoN and RpoS in Escherichia coli
T Dong, R Yu, H Schellhorn
Molecular microbiology 79 (2), 375-386 , 2011
2011
Citations: 130
Secretome analysis of Vibrio cholerae type VI secretion system reveals a new effector-immunity pair
E Altindis, T Dong, C Catalano, J Mekalanos
MBio 6 (2), 10.1128/mbio. 00075-15 , 2015
2015
Citations: 124
Contact-independent killing mediated by a T6SS effector with intrinsic cell-entry properties
L Song, J Pan, Y Yang, Z Zhang, R Cui, S Jia, Z Wang, C Yang, L Xu, ...
Nature Communications 12 (1), 423 , 2021
2021
Citations: 99
Intramolecular chaperone-mediated secretion of an Rhs effector toxin by a type VI secretion system
TT Pei, H Li, X Liang, ZH Wang, G Liu, LL Wu, H Kim, Z Xie, M Yu, S Lin, ...
Nature Communications 11 (1), 1865 , 2020
2020
Citations: 91
Vibrio cholerae type 6 secretion system effector trafficking in target bacterial cells
BT Ho, Y Fu, TG Dong, JJ Mekalanos
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114 (35), 9427-9432 , 2017
2017
Citations: 83
Defending against the type six secretion system: beyond immunity genes
SJ Hersch, K Manera, TG Dong
Cell Reports 33 (2) , 2020
2020
Citations: 75
Microbial herd protection mediated by antagonistic interaction in polymicrobial communities.
DTG Wong M, Liang X, Smart M, Tang L, Moore R, Ingalls B
Appl Environ Microbiol , 2016
2016
Citations: 75