Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing (QS) is a communication process that bacteria use to regulate their behaviour. It relies on the production and detection of small molecules known as autoinducers. The production of these molecules increases when a certain number, or quorum, of bacteria are present in an area, thus allowing the bacteria to coordinate their actions, such as bioluminescence, virulence, and biofilm formation. In this way, quorum sensing allows bacteria to respond to changes in their environment in a collective manner. This phenomenon has important implications for the healthcare, food and beverage, and industrial sectors, as it is involved in biofilm-related diseases and in the production of food and bioproducts.