Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Metabolic Incentives to Cooperate Controlled by Bacterial Quorum Sensing

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 24 Oct 2012
Scientists have found that bacterial quorum sensing controls when and which cells in a given population will release “public goods” into their environment, and does so in a way that is at least partly achieved by specific metabolic advantage “incentives” for the individual cells. More...


Quorum sensing (the form of intercellular bacterial communication that enables individual cells to recognize and react to the cell population density of their surrounding community) is a key regulator of the production and release of “public goods” - extracellular products that can be used by any community member. The quorum sensing system is also involved in controlling expression of a few “private goods” - intracellular products not available to other cells. In this study published in the October 12, 2012, issue of the journal Science, the opportunistic lung pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied under various metabolic conditions that changed the metabolic cost/benefit balance of producing “public goods” and thereby the competitive balance between “cooperator” cells and “cheater” cells; “cheater” cells being quorum sensing mutants that no longer produce “public goods” in response to increasing population density.

The scientists, from the University of Washington School of Medicine (Seattle, WA), found that quorum sensing–controlled expression of certain intracellular “private goods” can put a metabolic constraint on “cheater” cells and prevent a population collapse. When the researchers manipulated the environment so that the cost of cell cooperation was high and so induced destabilization of cooperation, the “cheater” cells were found to overtake the cooperating producer cells until the population collapsed. The scientists were also able to manipulate environmental conditions to restrict the “cheater” population growth and stabilize quorum sensing (population density) dependent cooperation, thereby providing the “public goods” required to maintain the population and prevent collapse of the community.

Metabolic constraint of social “cheating” provides an explanation for “private goods” regulation by a cooperative system and has general implications for population biology, infection control, and stabilization of quorum-sensing circuits in synthetic biology. The findings also provide additional indication of the potential for developing antibiotic-independent approaches to manage infections. In the future, conditions may be manipulated in order to cause cell populations of dangerous pathogens to collapse - "Perhaps, one day, we'll be able to manipulate infections so that bacterial cooperation is destabilized and infections are resolved," said Dr. Peter Greenberg, UW professor of microbiology and principal author of the study. "We've also gained new insights into how cell cooperation can be stably maintained in biology. It is much more straightforward to study sociality in bacteria than in animals. The payoffs may be in understanding what drives cooperation and conflict in general, and in developing strategies for infection control,” added Prof. Greenberg.

Related Links:

University of Washington School of Medicine



Gold Member
Quantitative POC Immunoassay Analyzer
EASY READER+
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Host Response Immunoassay Test
MeMed BV
New
Silver Member
Quality Control Material
NATtrol Chlamydia trachomatis Positive Control
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: A simple blood test could replace surgical biopsies for early detecion of heart transplant rejection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients

Following a heart transplant, patients are required to undergo surgical biopsies so that physicians can assess the possibility of organ rejection. Rejection happens when the recipient’s immune system identifies... Read more

Pathology

view channel
These images illustrate how precision oncology Organ Chips recapitulate individual patients’ responses to chemotherapy (Photo courtesy of Wyss Institute at Harvard University)

Cancer Chip Accurately Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Response

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the two primary types of esophageal cancer, ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective targeted therapies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.