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Abstract:
Abstract Chemical interactions among microorganisms and between microorganisms and their hosts involve bidirectional release and sensing of various signalling molecules. Quorum sensing, mediated by small molecules termed autoinducers, is well known to be used by bacteria to coordinate their collective behaviours. However, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that autoinducers are involved not only in intraspecies and interspecies communication among bacteria, but also in signalling interactions with eukaryotic hosts and even with phages. Although a clear picture is yet to emerge, in this minireview we briefly summarize recent advances in our understanding of interdomain signalling mediated by the major classes of the bacterial quorum sensing molecules, including its effects on the host cells and its potential physiological relevance.
