A review of quorum-sensing and its role in mediating interkingdom interactions in the ocean

Abstract Quorum sensing, first described in marine systems five decades ago, is a well-characterized chemical communication system used to coordinate bacterial gene expression and behavior; however, the impact of quorum sensing on interkingdom interactions has been vastly understudied. In this revie...

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Main Authors: Megan Coolahan, Kristen E. Whalen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07608-9
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author Megan Coolahan
Kristen E. Whalen
author_facet Megan Coolahan
Kristen E. Whalen
author_sort Megan Coolahan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Quorum sensing, first described in marine systems five decades ago, is a well-characterized chemical communication system used to coordinate bacterial gene expression and behavior; however, the impact of quorum sensing on interkingdom interactions has been vastly understudied. In this review, we examine how these molecules mediate communication between bacteria and marine eukaryotes; influencing processes such as development, disease pathogenesis, and microbiome regulation within marine ecosystems. We describe the varied mechanisms eukaryotes have evolved to interfere with bacterial quorum sensing signaling, the crucial role these signals play in host-virus interactions, and how their exchange may be governed by outer membrane vesicles, prevalent in marine systems. Here, we present a dynamic portrayal of the impact of quorum sensing signals beyond bacterial communication, laying the groundwork for future investigations on their roles in shaping marine ecosystem structure and function.
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spelling doaj-art-2f3a30f7f3034901bdc38b81cd4d04e42025-02-09T12:50:21ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-02-018111410.1038/s42003-025-07608-9A review of quorum-sensing and its role in mediating interkingdom interactions in the oceanMegan Coolahan0Kristen E. Whalen1Department of Biology, Haverford CollegeDepartment of Biology, Haverford CollegeAbstract Quorum sensing, first described in marine systems five decades ago, is a well-characterized chemical communication system used to coordinate bacterial gene expression and behavior; however, the impact of quorum sensing on interkingdom interactions has been vastly understudied. In this review, we examine how these molecules mediate communication between bacteria and marine eukaryotes; influencing processes such as development, disease pathogenesis, and microbiome regulation within marine ecosystems. We describe the varied mechanisms eukaryotes have evolved to interfere with bacterial quorum sensing signaling, the crucial role these signals play in host-virus interactions, and how their exchange may be governed by outer membrane vesicles, prevalent in marine systems. Here, we present a dynamic portrayal of the impact of quorum sensing signals beyond bacterial communication, laying the groundwork for future investigations on their roles in shaping marine ecosystem structure and function.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07608-9
spellingShingle Megan Coolahan
Kristen E. Whalen
A review of quorum-sensing and its role in mediating interkingdom interactions in the ocean
Communications Biology
title A review of quorum-sensing and its role in mediating interkingdom interactions in the ocean
title_full A review of quorum-sensing and its role in mediating interkingdom interactions in the ocean
title_fullStr A review of quorum-sensing and its role in mediating interkingdom interactions in the ocean
title_full_unstemmed A review of quorum-sensing and its role in mediating interkingdom interactions in the ocean
title_short A review of quorum-sensing and its role in mediating interkingdom interactions in the ocean
title_sort review of quorum sensing and its role in mediating interkingdom interactions in the ocean
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-07608-9
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