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Bacterial Signaling Ecology and Potential Applications During Aquatic Biofilm Construction

Microbial Ecology volume 68, pages 24–34 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

In their natural environment, bacteria and other microorganisms typically grow as surface-adherent biofilm communities. Cell signal processes, including quorum signaling, are now recognized as being intimately involved in the development and function of biofilms. In contrast to their planktonic (unattached) counterparts, bacteria within biofilms are notoriously resistant to many traditional antimicrobial agents and so represent a major challenge in industry and medicine. Although biofilms impact many human activities, they actually represent an ancient mode of bacterial growth as shown in the fossil record. Consequently, many aquatic organisms have evolved strategies involving signal manipulation to control or co-exist with biofilms. Here, we review the chemical ecology of biofilms and propose mechanisms whereby signal manipulation can be used to promote or control biofilms.

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Acknowledgments

Work in the authors' laboratories has been funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (PJJ, RJCM), Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program (RJCM), and an NSF cooperative agreement (HRD-0450363) (LMV). RJCM would like to thank Clay Fuqua for introducing him to the fascinating world of quorum signaling.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA

    Leticia M. Vega & Pedro J. Alvarez

  2. Department of Biology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666-4616, USA

    Robert J. C. McLean

Authors
  1. Leticia M. Vega
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  2. Pedro J. Alvarez
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  3. Robert J. C. McLean
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Correspondence to Robert J. C. McLean.

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Vega, L.M., Alvarez, P.J. & McLean, R.J.C. Bacterial Signaling Ecology and Potential Applications During Aquatic Biofilm Construction. Microb Ecol 68, 24–34 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-013-0321-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-013-0321-1

Keywords

  • Quorum Sense
  • Homoserine Lactone
  • Reporter Strain
  • Acidithiobacillus Ferrooxidans
  • Quorum Quenching