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Related Concept Videos

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

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Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
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Bacterial Signaling01:30

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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...
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Bacterial growth is closely tied to nutrient availability, with cells proliferating exponentially under favorable conditions and entering a stationary phase when resources become scarce. This transition is mediated by a regulatory mechanism known as the stringent response, which allows bacteria to adapt to nutrient deprivation by modulating gene expression and metabolic activity.During nutrient scarcity, intracellular amino acid levels decline. It results in the accumulation of uncharged tRNAs...
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The organization of prokaryotic genes in their genome is notably different from that of eukaryotes. Prokaryotic genes are organized, such that the genes for proteins involved in the same biochemical process or function are located together in groups. This group of genes, along with their regulatory elements, are collectively known as an operon. The functional genes in an operon are transcribed together to give a single strand of mRNA known as polycistronic mRNA.
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Global regulatory systems in bacteria enable rapid and coordinated responses to environmental changes by integrating sensory inputs with gene expression, ensuring efficient adaptation to fluctuating conditions. Key global regulatory mechanisms include regulons, two-component systems, sigma factors, and secondary messengers.Regulons and Global RegulatorsA regulon is a collection of genes and operons controlled by a common global regulator. These regulators enable bacteria to prioritize resource...
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Related Experiment Video

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Anti-virulent Disruption of Pathogenic Biofilms using Engineered Quorum-quenching Lactonases
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Quorum sensing to repress virulence.

Annalisa M VanHook1

  • 1Science Signaling, AAAS, Washington, DC 20005, USA.

Science Signaling
|May 18, 2017
PubMed
Summary

A bacterial quorum-sensing system helps an insect endosymbiont maintain a persistent infection. This system works by suppressing the expression of virulence genes, preventing harmful effects on the host.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Insect Pathology
  • Bacterial Genetics

Background:

  • Bacterial endosymbionts play crucial roles in insect physiology and ecology.
  • Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication mechanism used by bacteria to coordinate gene expression.
  • Understanding QS in endosymbionts is vital for controlling insect-borne diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of a specific quorum-sensing system in an insect endosymbiont.
  • To determine how this QS system influences bacterial persistence and virulence gene expression.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying endosymbiont-host interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic manipulation of the quorum-sensing system in the endosymbiont.
  • Quantitative analysis of bacterial load and persistence in insect hosts.

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  • Gene expression profiling to assess virulence factor regulation.

    • Main Results:

    • The quorum-sensing system was found to be essential for establishing persistent infections.
    • Inhibition of virulence gene expression was directly linked to the activation of the QS system.
    • Disruption of the QS system led to reduced bacterial persistence and increased host pathology.

    Conclusions:

    • The quorum-sensing system of this insect endosymbiont is a key regulator of bacterial virulence.
    • This QS system facilitates long-term host colonization by downregulating harmful factors.
    • Targeting bacterial QS represents a potential strategy for managing insect endosymbiont-related issues.