Quorum Sensing and Bacterial Social Interactions in Biofilms 英文参考文献.docVIP

Sensors 2012, 12, 2519-2538; doi:10.3390/s120302519 OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Review Quorum Sensing and Bacterial Social Interactions in Biofilms Yung-Hua Li 1,2,* and Xiaolin Tian 2 1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 1W2, Canada 2 Department of Applied Oral Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 1W2, Canada; E-Mail: xiao-lin.tian@dal.ca * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: yung-hua.li@dal.ca; Tel.: +1-902-494-3063; Fax: +1-902-494-6621. Received: 6 January 2012; in revised form: 9 February 2012 / Accepted: 10 February 2012 / Published: 23 February 2012 Abstract: Many bacteria are known to regulate their cooperative activities and physiological processes through a mechanism called quorum sensing (QS), in which bacterial cells communicate with each other by releasing, sensing and responding to small diffusible signal molecules. The ability of bacteria to communicate and behave as a group for social interactions like a multi-cellular organism has provided significant benefits to bacteria in host colonization, formation of biofilms, defense against competitors, and adaptation to changing environments. Importantly, many QS-controlled activities have been involved in the virulence and pathogenic potential of bacteria. Therefore, understanding the molecular details of quorum sensing mechanisms and their controlled social activities may open a new avenue for controlling bacterial infections. Keywords: quorum sensing; biofilms; bacterial social interactions; bacterial infections 1. Introduction It was believed for many years that bacteria, unlike eukaryotic organisms, behaved as self-sufficient individuals and maintained a strictly unicellular life-style [1–3]. During infections, bacterial mass was considered nothing more than the sum of these individuals. Our perception of bacteria as un