Cell to Communication Between Mammalian Host and Microbial Quorum Sensing Orchestrates the Complex Relationships

Abstract

Bacteria have to adapt to dynamic environmental condition in order to survive. Quorum sensing is a communication between bacterial cells for modification in behavior by sensing change in cell density. This communication includes the production and release of signaling molecules termed as autoinducer. This is to check the cell number and to modify gene expression accordingly to perform certain cooperative actions. Quorum-sensing phenomenon is executed by both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, but it differs in their mechanism. It is not restricted to bacteria only. As prokaryotes and eukaryotes coexist for their effective survival, there is a crosstalk between bacterial signaling molecule and host-derived hormones. The current chapter highlights inter-kingdom relationship between bacteria and host, especially focus is on mammals and how they crosstalk with each other. It emphasizes on how autoinducers produced by bacteria affect mammalian host cell behavior and its signaling mechanism.