Quorum sensing signal-response systems in Gram-negative bacteria

Papenfort, Kai and Bassler, Bonnie L. (2016): Quorum sensing signal-response systems in Gram-negative bacteria. In: Nature Reviews Microbiology, Vol. 14, No. 9: pp. 576-588

Abstract

Bacteria use quorum sensing to orchestrate gene expression programmes that underlie collective behaviours. Quorum sensing relies on the production, release, detection and group-level response to extracellular signalling molecules, which are called autoinducers. Recent work has discovered new autoinducers in Gram-negative bacteria, shown how these molecules are recognized by cognate receptors, revealed new regulatory components that are embedded in canonical signalling circuits and identified novel regulatory network designs. In this Review we examine how, together, these features of quorum sensing signal response systems combine to control collective behaviours in Gram-negative bacteria and we discuss the implications for host microbial associations and antibacterial therapy.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Biology > Department Biology I
• Subjects: 500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
• ISSN: 1740-1526
• Language: English