Quorum Sensing and Bacterial Social Interactions in Biofilms

Sensors

Yung-Hua Li¹ 

[1] Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 1W2, Canada

关键词: quorum sensing;    biofilms;    bacterial social interactions;    bacterial infections;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s120302519

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Many bacteria are known to regulate their cooperative activities and physiological processes through a mechanism called quorum sensing (QS), in which bacterial cells communicate with each other by releasing, sensing and responding to small diffusible signal molecules. The ability of bacteria to communicate and behave as a group for social interactions like a multi-cellular organism has provided significant benefits to bacteria in host colonization, formation of biofilms, defense against competitors, and adaptation to changing environments. Importantly, many QS-controlled activities have been involved in the virulence and pathogenic potential of bacteria. Therefore, understanding the molecular details of quorum sensing mechanisms and their controlled social activities may open a new avenue for controlling bacterial infections.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland