The social behaviours of bacterial pathogens.
BACKGROUND
The term quorum sensing (QS) is used to describe communication between bacterial cells, whereby a coordinated population response is controlled by diffusible signal molecules produced by individuals.


METHODS
Studies on QS-mediated signalling processes in bacteria have revealed the existence of intricate regulatory networks to enable bacterial populations to fine tune their responses to environmental changes and increase their chances of survival, using complex signalling pathways.


RESULTS
A population of bacteria invading a host may benefit from the coordinated release of virulence determinants and in vitro studies have shown that QS regulates virulence factor production in many species of bacteria.


RESULTS
However, the role of QS in vivo is less well understood, but has been demonstrated to be important in several pathogenic organisms.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a growing interest in blocking bacterial cell-cell communication as a means to control infections. This review discusses QS from a pathogenic perspective and discusses the potential of QS as an anti-pathogenic target.
Popat
Roman
R
Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
Crusz
Shanika A
SA
Diggle
Stephen P
SP
D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014774:Virulence