Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2025

Single-cell Microinjection for Cell Communication Analysis
Published on: February 26, 2017
A cell-cell communication signal from Enterobacter cloacae interfering with the signaling systems and virulence in
Xiayu Chen1, Mingfang Wang1,2, Zhuoxian Zhao1
1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University - Shenzhen Campus, Shenzhen, China.
Abstract:
Quorum sensing (QS) is widely utilized by both bacteria and fungi to mediate cell-cell communication. Previous studies have demonstrated that the indole derivative indole-3-ethanol (also known as tryptophol) controls morphogenesis as a QS molecule in fungi. However, whether this QS signal is involved in the modulation of biological functions in bacteria remains unknown. Here, we report that indole-3-ethanol controls the biological functions and pathogenicity of Enterobacter cloacae subsp. cloacae ATCC 13047. The biosynthesis of indole-3-ethanol is performed by YjgB (ECL_RS22935), an alcohol dehydrogenase. Deletion of yjgB results in impaired biological functions and virulence. Furthermore, we revealed that indole-3-ethanol from E. cloacae reduces the competitive fitness of Shigella sonnei by inhibiting its biofilm formation, extracellular polysaccharide synthesis, and virulence. Given that both E. cloacae and S. sonnei are common human intestinal microbes, our results highlight the critical roles of indole-3-ethanol in both intraspecies signaling and interspecies communication in bacteria.
Importance:
Quorum sensing is a cell-cell communication mechanism widely employed by bacteria to control various biological functions and pathogenicity. In this study, we demonstrated that Enterobacter cloacae employs indole-3-ethanol as a quorum-sensing signal to control biological functions and virulence. We also revealed that indole-3-ethanol from E. cloacae effectively inhibits biofilm formation and virulence in Shigella sonnei. Our findings not only suggest the important role of indole-3-ethanol in the regulation of the pathogenicity of E. cloacae but also provide new insights into the development of indole-3-ethanol as an anti-virulence agent against S. sonnei.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
What is Cell Signaling?
Overview of Cell Signaling
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Types of Signaling Molecules
Contact-dependent Signaling
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
Cell Signaling in Plants
Cell-surface Signaling

