Quorum Sensing is a type of communication in bacteria that is used to recognize self and induce specific gene expression in contained bacterial populations. This is done by producing various sensing molecules, which can influence or induce a change in phenotype for the entire population. Bacterial populations can communicate about population size, metabolic state, or producing an end product such as bioluminescence. Quorum sensing is apparent in both single species populations and mixed species populations. It can be used as a decision-making tool is the individuals have the capability to assess the number of other components they interact with and have a standard response once a threshold number of individuals is reached.
There are many examples of quorum sensing now known in the bacterial world, but the best known is Vibrio fischeri which is a bioluminescent bacteria. When this bacteria is free-living and the auto-inducer is at high concentrations, the transcription of luciferase is induced causing bioluminescence.
Recent research into quorum sensing is working with antibiotics to target bacteria's ability to communicate with one another. If the communication is interrupted, the bacteria do not have the ability to replicate to high enough levels to become pathogenic within a host and offer a chance for the host immune system to fight off the remainder bacteria.
There are three mechanisms in which bacteria conduct quorum sensing. We are still attempting to understand these mechanisms and will post about them later.
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