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Bacterial Signaling

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...

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...

Adherens Junctions

Adherens Junctions

Strong contact points between adjacent cells anchor them to each other, forming tissues. Such anchoring junctions are of two types – adherens junctions and desmosomes. Adherens junctions are abundant in tissues such as epithelium and endothelium, forming a continuous zone of adhesion called the adhesion belt. In other tissues, such as heart muscle, they appear as clusters, linking the cells to produce coordinated heart muscle contraction.
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic

Surface Membrane Barriers

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal floras of the human body refer to the microbial population that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes.
In addition, many body organ systems have unique defenses against infection. The skin is an intact, multilayered surface preventing invasion by microorganisms unless impaired. Mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, and eyelids are barriers...

Infection

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 18, 2025

Microfluidic Co-culture of Epithelial Cells and Bacteria for Investigating Soluble Signal-mediated Interactions

Microfluidic Co-culture of Epithelial Cells and Bacteria for Investigating Soluble Signal-mediated Interactions

Published on: April 20, 2010

Microscale communication between bacterial pathogens and the host epithelium.

Ann-Kathrin Mix¹, Griseldis Goob¹, Erik Sontowski¹

¹Lehrstuhl Zellbiologie, Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.

Genes and Immunity

|September 30, 2021

Summary

Pathogenic bacteria use adhesins to communicate with host cells, triggering signaling pathways. Interfering with this microscale communication offers a novel strategy for preventing infectious diseases.

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Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen

Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen

Published on: March 21, 2011

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Cell Biology
Immunology

Background:

Pathogenic bacteria utilize specific adhesins to bind host cells.
Bacterial adhesion triggers host cell signaling, initiating a microscale communication.
This communication impacts host cell morphology, gene expression, and physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

To review microscale communication between bacterial pathogens and host cells.
To explore the downstream effects of this communication during infection.
To highlight novel mechanisms, such as nitric oxide diffusion.

Main Methods:

Literature review of bacterial-host cell interactions.
Analysis of signaling pathways initiated by bacterial adhesins.
Discussion of emerging therapeutic strategies targeting host cell communication.

Main Results:

Bacterial adhesins mediate host cell receptor clustering and signaling.
This microscale communication leads to immediate and long-term host cell changes.
Some bacteria use adhesins to release signaling molecules like nitric oxide.

Conclusions:

Bacterial-host microscale communication is a critical aspect of infection.
Targeting host cell communication presents a new avenue for anti-infective therapies.
Interfering with host-directed communication offers an unconventional approach to disease prevention.