The bacterial type IV secretion system, also known as the type IV secretion system or the T4SS, is a secretion protein complex found in gram negative bacteria, gram positive bacteria, and archaea. It is able to transport proteins and DNA across the cell membrane. The type IV secretion system is just one of many bacterial secretion systems. Type IV secretion systems are related to conjugation machinery which generally involve a single-step secretion system and the use of a pilus. Type IV secretion systems are used for conjugation, DNA exchange with the extracellular space, and for delivering proteins to target cells. The type IV secretion system is divided into type IVA and type IVB based on genetic ancestry.
Notable instances of the type IV secretion system include the plasmid insertion into plants of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the toxin delivery methods of Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough) and Legionella pneumophila (Legionnaires' disease), the translocation of effector proteins into host cells by bacteria from the Brucella genus (Brucellosis), and the F sex pilus.