Interspecies and interkingdom communication mediated by bacterial quorum sensing

Abstract

Quorum sensing (QS) has traditionally referred to a mechanism of communication within a species of bacteria. However, emerging research implicates QS in interspecies communication and competition, and such systems have been proposed in a wide variety of bacteria. This activity of bacterial QS also extends to relationships between bacteria and eukaryotes and host–pathogen interactions in both clinical and agricultural settings are of particular interest. These relationships are particularly pertinent in light of the rising prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. In this tutorial review we describe bacterial QS and its capacity in interspecies and interkingdom interactions, as well as the corresponding eukaryotic responses.