Interference with AI-2-mediated bacterial cell–cell communication

Nature. 29: 437:750-753,2005

Speaker：鄭伯忻                           Date：2005/11/23 13:10~14:00

Commentator：何漣漪 老師                Place：Room 601

Abstract

Quorum sensing is a process that enables bacteria to communicate and control behavior on community-wide scale. This involves the production, release, and detection of chemical signal molecular called autoinducer. Most autoinducer involves in intraspecies communication, while one autoinducer, called AI-2, is produced and detected by a wide range of bacteria and is proposed to allow interspecies communication. How does AI-2 communicate within different species remains unknown? Here authors show the several evidences to demonstrate E. coli could manipulate AI-2 signaling and interfere with capacity of V. harveyi to assess and respond correctly to changes in cell population density.First, E. coli consume both its own AI-2 and the AI-2 of V. harveyi, caused a reduction in light output from V. harveyi. Second, in different growth stages, early production and late consumption of AI-2 in E. coli had inversely effect on quorum sensing response in V. harveyi. Third, instead of influence on light production in V. harveyi, E. coli mediated interference by AI-2 also influenced type III secretion system in V. harveyi. Fourth, E. coli AI-2 consumption also interfered with the quorum sensing behavior of Vibrio cholerae,and other enteric gut flora in the human enteric system. The authors conclude that eukaryotes may develope specific associations with microorganisms that communicate using AI-2 and the manipulation of AI-2 signals by these bacteria would maintain normal eukaryotic microflora and protect the host against pathogenic bacteria.

References

1.   Xavier, K. B., and B. L. Bassler. 2005. Interference with AI-2-mediated bacterial cell-cell communication. Nature 437:750-3.

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3.   Xavier, K. B., and B. L. Bassler. 2003. LuxS quorum sensing: more than just a numbers game. Curr Opin Microbiol 6:191-7.