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Published on: May 23, 2020
Interspecies and interkingdom communication mediated by bacterial quorum sensing
Colin A Lowery1, Tobin J Dickerson, Kim D Janda
1Department of Chemistry, The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) involves communication within and between species, extending to interactions with eukaryotes. Understanding these systems is crucial for addressing antibiotic resistance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial communication
- Interspecies interactions
Background:
- Quorum sensing (QS) traditionally describes bacterial communication within a species.
- Emerging research highlights QS's role in interspecies communication and competition.
- QS systems are implicated in diverse bacterial species and their interactions with eukaryotes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review bacterial quorum sensing (QS) mechanisms.
- To explore QS in interspecies and interkingdom interactions.
- To discuss eukaryotic responses to bacterial QS.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of quorum sensing research.
- Analysis of studies on bacterial interspecies and interkingdom communication.
- Examination of host-pathogen interactions involving QS.
Main Results:
- QS facilitates communication beyond a single bacterial species.
- Bacterial QS influences interactions with eukaryotic organisms.
- These interactions are relevant to clinical and agricultural settings.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial QS is a complex communication system with broad ecological roles.
- Understanding QS is vital for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- QS modulation offers potential therapeutic and agricultural applications.
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