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Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Signaling01:30

Bacterial Signaling

Bacterial signaling can occur within bacteria (intracellular) or between bacteria (intercellular). At times, a group of bacteria behaves like a community. To achieve this, they engage in quorum sensing, the perception of higher cell density that causes changes in gene expression. Quorum sensing involves both extracellular and intracellular signaling. The signaling cascade starts with a molecule called an autoinducer (AI). Individual bacteria produce AIs that move out of the bacterial cell...
What is Cell Signaling?02:03

What is Cell Signaling?

Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.
What is Cell Signaling?02:03

What is Cell Signaling?

Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.
Prokaryotic Cells01:28

Prokaryotic Cells

Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains — Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common microorganisms, such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the Archaea include extremophiles that live in harsh environments, such as volcanic springs.
Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize proteins.
Prokaryotic Cells01:51

Prokaryotic Cells

Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains—Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common organisms, such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the Archaea include extremophiles that live in harsh environments, such as volcanic springs.Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize proteins. However,...
Overview of Cell Signaling01:23

Overview of Cell Signaling

Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Fluorescence Live-cell Imaging of the Complete Vegetative Cell Cycle of the Slow-growing Social Bacterium Myxococcus xanthus
11:45

Fluorescence Live-cell Imaging of the Complete Vegetative Cell Cycle of the Slow-growing Social Bacterium Myxococcus xanthus

Published on: June 20, 2018

Intercellular communication in bacteria.

L Caetano M Antunes1, Rosana B R Ferreira

  • 1Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. antunes@msl.ubc.ca

Critical Reviews in Microbiology
|June 12, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteria exhibit complex group behaviors through chemical signaling, enabling communication with each other and hosts. This intercellular communication is crucial for survival, host interactions, and developing new disease therapies.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial communication
  • Chemical signaling

Background:

  • Traditionally viewed as solitary, bacteria exhibit sophisticated group behaviors.
  • Bacterial intercellular communication involves producing, sensing, and responding to chemical signals.
  • This communication allows adaptation to environmental conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the discovery of bacterial intercellular communication.
  • To discuss identified signaling molecules and their roles.
  • To explore implications for therapeutic strategies against human diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of bacterial communication research.
  • Analysis of signaling molecules in various bacterial interactions.
  • Examination of host-pathogen and symbiotic relationships.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial intercellular communication is a well-established phenomenon.
  • Numerous signaling molecules mediate diverse bacterial behaviors.
  • Intercellular signaling plays a critical role in host-pathogen dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial communication is vital for survival, adaptation, and host interactions.
  • Understanding bacterial signaling offers potential for novel therapeutic interventions.
  • Targeting bacterial communication pathways may combat human diseases.