Quorum sensing as a mechanism to harness the wisdom of the crowds

Abstract

Bacteria release and sense small molecules called autoinducers in a process known as quorum sensing. The prevailing interpretation of quorum sensing is that by sensing autoinducer concentrations, bacteria estimate population density to regulate the expression of functions that are only beneficial when carried out by a sufficiently large number of cells. However, a major challenge to this interpretation is that the concentration of autoinducers strongly depends on the environment, often rendering autoinducer-based estimates of cell density unreliable. Here we propose an alternative interpretation of quorum sensing, where bacteria, by releasing and sensing autoinducers, harness social interactions to sense the environment as a collective. Using a computational model we show that this functionality can explain the evolution of quorum sensing and arises from individuals improving their estimation accuracy by pooling many imperfect estimates – analogous to the ‘wisdom of the crowds’ in decision theory. Importantly, our model reconciles the observed dependence of quorum sensing on both population density and the environment and explains why several quorum sensing systems regulate the production of private goods.

Review of quorum‐quenching probiotics: A promising non‐antibiotic‐based strategy for sustainable aquaculture

“…This mechanism operates through small signalling molecules known as autoinducers, which bacterial cells produce and release into their environment, either by passive diffusion or active secretion (Galloway et al, 2011;Glessner et al, 1999). These molecules then accumulate extracellularly, allowing bacteria to detect their concentration via specialized receptors (Moreno-Gámez et al, 2023), with the level of these signals correlating directly with the bacterial population size (Bassler & Losick, 2006). Upon attaining a particular threshold concentration, these signals attach to specific receptors, stimulating signal transduction pathways that lead to far-reaching changes in gene expression throughout the population (Atkinson & Williams, 2009;Galloway et al, 2011).…”

Novel Antimicrobial Approaches to Combat Bacterial Biofilms Associated with Urinary Tract Infections

“…Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell signalling mechanism that enables bacteria to release small signalling molecules called autoinducers that regulate gene expression involved in virulence and biofilm formation [98]. Several QS inhibitors of both natural and synthetic origins have been identified.…”

Quorum sensing going wild

“… 27 Collective decision making was hypothesized to explain observed heterogeneities in B. subtilis and S. meliloti 20 , 48 and the latter function of phenotypic heterogeneity was further corroborated by mathematical modeling. 49 One could, most likely, find even more examples in the scientific literature, where observed phenotypic heterogeneity was properly addressed. We, nevertheless, propose that an even more dramatic shift away from the homogenized QS response dogma is warranted.…”