Quorum Sensing

What is Quorum Sensing

• system of stimuli and response
• correlated to population density
• allows cells to express energetically expensive processes at certain times

We as humans..

• Humans have trillions of cells including bacteria which are important
• We are huge organisms and bacteria would be useless against us and our immune system if they acted independently.

Why is sensing important?

• It enables bacteria to talk to each other to do a job.
• This job could be beneficial or harmful to us
• This is how bacteria communicate....

Example of Sensing in Vibrio fisheri

• this bacteria enables bioluminescense
• Independly they don't make light but in a community they do

Example of sensing in humans

• Few bacteria that release toxins would have no effect on you
• Pathengenicity is controlled by quorum sensing

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