Small
Talk: Cell-to-Cell Communication in Bacteria
Cell-cell communication
in bacteria involves the production, release, and subsequent detection of
chemical signaling molecules called autoinducers. This process, called quorum sensing, allows
bacteria to regulate gene expression on a population-wide scale. Processes
controlled by quorum sensing are usually ones that are unproductive when
undertaken by an individual bacterium but become effective when undertaken by
the group. For example, quorum sensing controls bioluminescence, secretion of
virulence factors, biofilm formation, sporulation, and the exchange of DNA.
Thus, quorum sensing is a mechanism that allows bacteria to function as
multi-cellular organisms. Bacteria make, detect, and integrate information from
multiple autoinducers, some of which are used exclusively for intra-species
communication while others enable communication between species. Research is now focused on the development of
therapies that interfere with quorum sensing to control bacterial virulence.