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Bacteria clustering by polymers induces the expression of quorum-sensing-controlled phenotypes
Leong T Lui1, Xuan Xue, Cheng Sui
1School of Computer Science, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
Nature Chemistry
|November 22, 2013
Summary
Polymeric bacteria sequestrants, designed to inhibit bacterial adhesion, unexpectedly trigger quorum sensing by causing cell clustering. This study reveals design principles for controlling bacterial population behaviors through chemical strategies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Polymer Chemistry
- Chemical Biology
Background:
- Bacteria utilize chemical signaling, including quorum sensing, to regulate behaviors like surface attachment.
- Polymers can interfere with bacterial adhesion and quorum sensing, offering potential control over bacterial populations.
- Understanding polymer-bacteria interactions is crucial for developing strategies to manage bacterial behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how polymeric bacteria sequestrants, designed to inhibit adhesion, affect bacterial behavior.
- To characterize the feedback loop between polymer-induced bacterial clustering and quorum sensing.
- To derive design principles for controlling bacterial population-level responses.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of polymeric bacteria sequestrants.
- Biological assays to assess bacterial adhesion and quorum sensing phenotypes.
- Analytical chemistry techniques to study polymer-bacteria interactions.
- Computational modeling to analyze cell clustering and signaling feedback.
Main Results:
- Polymeric sequestrants designed to inhibit adhesion induced quorum sensing phenotypes.
- Bacterial cell clustering, a consequence of polymer interaction, was identified as the trigger for quorum sensing.
- A feedback mechanism between clustering and quorum sensing signaling was elucidated.
- Design principles for modulating bacterial population behavior were established.
Conclusions:
- Polymeric sequestrants can unintentionally activate quorum sensing through cell clustering.
- Bacterial clustering and quorum sensing are intricately linked.
- Chemical strategies and design principles can be developed to control bacterial population behaviors.
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