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2 - Quorum Sensing and Microbial Biofilms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2009

Teresa R. de Kievit
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Barbara H. Iglewski
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
Michael Wilson
Affiliation:
University College London
Deirdre Devine
Affiliation:
Leeds Dental Institute, University of Leeds
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Summary

INTRODUCTION

For a long time bacteria were believed to exist as unicellular organisms; however, it is now realized that in nature bacteria are more often found clustered in communities. Within these communities, bacteria are capable of coordinated activity through the use of a sophisticated intercellular communication mechanism called quorum sensing (QS). The capacity to behave collectively as a group has obvious advantages, for example, migration to a more suitable environment/better nutrient supply or adopting a more favourable mode of growth such as sporulation. Recently, QS was discovered to play a role in the formation of biofilms. This latter phenomenon will be the focus of this chapter as we review our current understanding of how QS affects the complex processes of biofilm development. With respect to intercellular communication and biofilms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most intensely studied organisms, and therefore, much of this chapter will concentrate on this bacterium.

QUORUM SENSING

QS exists in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with obvious differences between the two systems (for reviews, see Dunny and Leonard, 1997; Fuqua, Winans, and Greenberg, 1996). Here, we will focus on Gram-negative bacteria, where the two primary components of QS systems are the autoinducer (AI) signal molecule and the transcriptional activator, or R-protein. In general, the ‘language’ used for intercellular communication is based on small, diffusible, self-generated signal molecules called AIs.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2003

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References

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  • Quorum Sensing and Microbial Biofilms
    • By Teresa R. de Kievit, Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Barbara H. Iglewski, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
  • Edited by Michael Wilson, University College London, Deirdre Devine, Leeds Dental Institute, University of Leeds
  • Book: Medical Implications of Biofilms
  • Online publication: 23 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511546297.003
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  • Quorum Sensing and Microbial Biofilms
    • By Teresa R. de Kievit, Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Barbara H. Iglewski, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
  • Edited by Michael Wilson, University College London, Deirdre Devine, Leeds Dental Institute, University of Leeds
  • Book: Medical Implications of Biofilms
  • Online publication: 23 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511546297.003
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Quorum Sensing and Microbial Biofilms
    • By Teresa R. de Kievit, Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Barbara H. Iglewski, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
  • Edited by Michael Wilson, University College London, Deirdre Devine, Leeds Dental Institute, University of Leeds
  • Book: Medical Implications of Biofilms
  • Online publication: 23 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511546297.003
Available formats
×