Neisseria subflava strain KU1003-01 outcompetes Neisseria gonorrhoeae using a contact dependant mechanism

The aim of this study was assess whether Neisseria subflava strain KU1003-01 outcompetes Neisseria gonorrhoeae in co-culture and to identify whether the Type VI Secretion System plays a role in the competition. Using a Gene Splicing by Overlap Extension PCR strategy, a gene critical to T6SS function was knocked out. We identified a significant difference (P< 0.001) in recoverable N. gonorrhoeae CFU following co-culture with the N. subflava T6SS knockout mutant when compared to recovered CFU following co-culture with the wild type strain. Our findings indicate that N. subflava strain KU1003-01 outcompetes N. gonorrhoeae and that the Type VI Secretion System plays a role in the competition. Neisseria subflava strain KU1003-01 outcompetes Neisseria gonorrhoeae using a contact dependant mechanism.