Williams Paul, Cámara Miguel
Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Curr Opin Microbiol. 2009 Apr;12(2):182-91. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2009.01.005. Epub 2009 Feb 25.
Bacteria employ sophisticated cell-to-cell communication or 'quorum sensing' (QS) systems for promoting collective behaviours that depend on the actions of one or more chemically distinct diffusible signal molecules. As determinants of cell population density, multiple QS systems are often integrated with each other and within global regulatory networks and subject to the prevailing environmental conditions as well as the presence and activities of other organisms. QS signal molecules, although largely considered as effectors of QS-dependent gene expression are also emerging as multifunctional molecules that influence life, development and death in single and mixed microbial populations and impact significantly the outcome of host-pathogen interactions.
细菌利用复杂的细胞间通讯或“群体感应”（QS）系统来促进集体行为，这些行为依赖于一种或多种化学性质不同的可扩散信号分子的作用。作为细胞群体密度的决定因素，多个QS系统常常相互整合，并存在于全局调控网络中，且受当前环境条件以及其他生物体的存在和活动的影响。QS信号分子虽然在很大程度上被视为依赖QS的基因表达的效应物，但也正成为多功能分子，影响单一和混合微生物群体中的生命、发育和死亡，并对宿主 - 病原体相互作用的结果产生重大影响。
