Density-dependent fitness benefits in quorum-sensing bacterial populations

Darch, Sophie E., West, Stuart A., Winzer, Klaus and Diggle, Stephen P. (2012) Density-dependent fitness benefits in quorum-sensing bacterial populations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109 (21). pp. 8259-8263. ISSN 1091-6490

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Abstract

It has been argued that bacteria communicate using small diffusible signal molecules to coordinate, among other things, the production of factors that are secreted outside of the cells in a process known as quorum sensing (QS). The underlying assumption made to explain QS is that the secretion of these extracellular factors is more beneficial at higher cell densities. However, this fundamental assumption has never been tested experimentally. Here, we directly test this by independently manipulating population density and the induction and response to the QS signal, using the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model organism. We found that the benefit of QS was relatively greater at higher population densities, and that this was because of more efficient use of QS-dependent extracellular “public goods.” In contrast, the benefit of producing “private goods,” which are retained within the cell, does not vary with cell density. Overall, these results support the idea that QS is used to coordinate the switching on of social behaviors at high densities when such behaviors are more efficient and will provide the greatest benefit.

Item Type: Article
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/710300
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Life Sciences > School of Molecular Medical Sciences
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1118131109
Depositing User: de Sousa, Mrs Shona
Date Deposited: 28 Mar 2014 16:02
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 16:33
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/2732

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