Welcome to BacFighT6, a dynamic simulation of microscopic warfare! This platform models the complex interactions between competing bacterial populations on a two-dimensional hexagonal grid. At the heart of the conflict is the Type VI Secretion System (T6SS)—a nanoscale, contact-dependent speargun that bacteria use to inject toxins into neighboring rivals and conquer space.
Explore Over 120+ Customizable Parameters:
Cellular Growth and Motility: Cells can replicate to occupy empty adjacent spaces and can actively move around the grid based on configurable parameters.
Quorum Sensing (QS) Regulation: Attacker T6SS firing is controlled by a cell density-dependent QS system, making their aggression dependent on their population size.
Diverse T6SS Strategies: The model includes advanced behaviors such as:
Attacker movement towards signals released by Prey cells.
Defender-specific retaliation against attackers.
Attacker kin exclusion to avoid friendly fire.
Defensive Mechanisms: Prey can develop a protective capsule in response to their own population density, and cells can have an innate percentage-based chance to resist incoming toxins. Prey may also produce diffusible toxins.
Toxin Effects and Cell Fate: Cells accumulate damage from toxins, which can lead to either growth arrest (cell death) or lysis (cell bursting).
Visual Reporter System: The lysis of Prey cells releases a simulated enzyme (LacZ) that causes a background color change, providing a visual measure of killing efficiency.
For more details and explanations, use this NotebookLM powered chat. Or listen to a podcast style summary here.
The code of the WebApp simulation is available on GitHub: https://github.com/BaslerLab/BacFighT6
Simplified version available as an App and a "Live Wallpaper" for Android as well as a Garmin watch face and app.
Please, use this web site for fun and to learn about Type VI secretion system and bacterial interactions but always consult the original scientific literature! Feel free to leave feedback and suggestions!
Have fun with BacFighT6!
Marek
Notes & Support:
The simulation, the documentation, and the explanations are under constant development. Most of this content was generated using Gemini 2.5 Pro, later improved with Gemini 3.1 Pro and 3.5 Flash.
Development of BacFighT6 runs on coffee! If you find it useful, please consider a small donation. Thank you!