Burkholderia cepacia Complex Contact-Dependent Growth Inhibition Systems Mediate Interbacterial Competition

Competition among bacteria affects microbial colonization of environmental niches and host organisms, particularly during polymicrobial infections. The Bcc is a group of environmental bacteria that can cause life-threatening opportunistic infections in patients who have cystic fibrosis or are immunocompromised. Understanding the mechanisms used by these bacterial pathogens to compete with one another may lead to the development of more effective therapies. Findings presented here demonstrate that a Bcc species,Burkholderia multivorans , produces functional CDI system proteins and that growth of this pathogen can be controlled by CDI system proteins produced by neighboringBurkholderia cells.