The growth and proliferation of bacteria is largely dependent on their ability to communicate with each other through a well orchestrated process known as quorum sensing. The signalling between different bacterial species or within species takes place through this phenomenon via the release of molecules called auto-inducers.

The process has been found significant and can’t be done away with respect to bacterial growth and function as it provides them important information and gives the bacteria a measure of the surrounding population density, allows them to organize gene expression coordination on behalf of the entire population during conditions of stress or starvation that might bring about a change in the size of the community or the niche conditions.

The bacteria are also able to gather enough information regarding nutrient availability and prevalent ecological conditions and act accordingly. It has been established that the language of quorum sensing is quite specific that allows precise communication even between the strains of bacterial species. Now, mechanisms that inhibit the quorum sensing have been elucidated across eukaryotic and prokaryotic species that enable them to fight against and interfere with the growth of their competitors. The competitors have evolved mechanisms to synthesize and release enzymes that can break down the auto inducers or compounds that might act as mimics to the auto-inducers thereby preventing quorum sensing within the other bacterial population and promoting their own growth. [Read more…]