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Attack and defence in the microverse

Researchers discovered that tiny RNA molecules play a decisive role in the complex interaction of attack and defence strategies when bacteria are infected with bacteriophages. The study found that these RNA molecules regulate phage genes as well as host genes, effectively explaining the destruction of bacterial cells.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalCell Host & Microbe·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 4, 2024

How eavesdropping viruses battle it out to infect us

Researchers find that viruses, like bacteriophages, can eavesdrop on bacterial communication and switch from chill mode to kill mode in response to chemical signals. The study reveals tools that control this strategy and demonstrates its abundance, providing new insights into viral behavior.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 26, 2023

Artificial sweeteners disrupt bacterial communication and may influence gut microbiota, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev scientists find

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have discovered that artificial sweeteners can significantly impair bacterial communication. Three out of six tested FDA-approved sweeteners were found to inhibit quorum sensing, a key process for bacteria to communicate with each other.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 7, 2021

Body cells spy out bacteria

Researchers discovered that the human body uses a receptor to detect bacterial quorum sensing molecules, enabling it to react to differing stages of an infection. This allows the body to save energy by not reacting prematurely and prevents collateral damage caused by the immune system's response.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateDec 20, 2019

How antibiotics help spread resistance

Researchers found that certain antibiotics can alter the way bacteria divide and interact with each other, leading to increased competence and the spread of antibiotic-resistant genes. Biofilms play a crucial role in this process, allowing cells to secrete higher concentrations of a peptide that triggers quorum sensing.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalCell Reports·DateNov 27, 2018

Cystic fibrosis: Discovery of a key molecule for improving treatments

A team of researchers at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre has discovered a promising solution to improving treatments for cystic fibrosis. By adding quorum-sensing inhibitors to current drugs, they were able to restore treatment efficacy in cells of cystic fibrosis patients.

SourceUniversity of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM)·JournalFrontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·DateDec 12, 2017

We have a quorum

Researchers at Pitt Engineering have created synthetic materials that mimic the behavior of living organisms, enabling self-recognition and self-regulation in devices. The findings were published in PNAS and demonstrate potential applications for mechano-responsive materials with tunable self-awareness.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 25, 2017

Silencing cholera's social media

A new study reveals how LuxO, a key response regulator in Vibrio cholerae's quorum-sensing cascade, regulates the pathogenicity of the disease-causing bacterium. The researchers discovered an unusual inhibitory mechanism that permanently switches on LuxO, opening doors for potential therapeutic interventions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMay 24, 2016

Learning the language of bacteria

Researchers have discovered a class of molecules that can target quorum sensing, a key mechanism used by bacteria to communicate and coordinate their behavior. By blocking this system, scientists hope to develop new drugs that can prevent bacterial infections without promoting resistance.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalChemBioChem·DateDec 6, 2010

Finding the constant in bacterial communication

Researchers found that a key factor in quorum sensing is the ratio of bacteria to environment volume, regulating biological functions like bioluminescence and nutrient foraging. This discovery provides insights into fundamental design of quorum sensing systems and enables engineering of synthetic gene circuits.

SourceDuke University·JournalMolecular Systems Biology·DateJul 7, 2009

Quorum sensing in yeast

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have made significant progress in understanding how yeast cells communicate with each other through quorum sensing. This complex process allows yeast to coordinate behaviors such as biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenes & Development·DateApr 16, 2006

It's a stirring tale of bacteria

Researchers observed Bacillus subtilis bacteria moving through fluid in a coordinated pattern, creating swirls and jets that stir the fluid and may aid bacterial detection. The 'self-concentration' phenomenon has potential applications in biotechnology, particularly in mixing minute quantities of solutions.