Quorum sensing in Gram-negative bacteria
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Bacteria can communicate with each other by means of signal molecules to coordinate the behavior of the entire community, and the mechanism is referred to as quorum sensing (QS). Signal systems enable bacteria to sense the size of their densities by monitoring the concentration of the signal molecules. Among Gram-negative bacteria N-acyl-L-homoserine lactone (acyl-HSL)-dependent quorum sensing systems are particularly widespread. These systems are used to coordinate expression of phenotypes that are fundamental to the interaction of bacteria with each other and with their environment and particularly higher organisms, covering a variety of functions ranging from pathogenic to symbiotic interactions. The detailed knowledge of these bacterial communication systems has opened completely new perspectives for controlling undesired microbial activities.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Progress in Natural Science |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 5 |
Pages (from-to) | 377-387 |
Number of pages | 11 |
ISSN | 1002-0071 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2004 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:
Many thanks to Abigail Harris and Matt Crow for sharing unpublished results and Simon McGowan, Martin Welch and Steve Harris for many discussions. This work was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UK) and the EU FAIR5 Programme (CT97-3676). A.M.L.B. received a BBSRC studentship and N.J.L.S. was supported by a studentship from the Medical Research Council (UK).
- Bacterial biofilms, Bacterial communication, N-acyl-homoserine lactone, Quorum sensing
Research areas
ID: 340024780