Regulation of competence-mediated horizontal gene transfer in the natural habitat of Vibrio cholerae

- Vibrio cholerae enters the natural competence state upon growth on chitin.
- Competence co-induces the type VI secretion system.
- Production of the DNA-uptake machinery is regulated in a bipartite manner.
- Quorum sensing plays a key role in the competence network.
- Nucleases inhibit natural transformation by means of DNA degradation.