Quorum sensing and the confusion about diffusion.

Journal article

Two hypotheses, termed quorum sensing (QS) and diffusion sensing (DS), have been suggested as competing explanations for why bacterial cells use the local concentration of small molecules to regulate numerous extracellular behaviours. Here, we show that: (i) although there are important differences between QS and DS, they are not diametrically opposed; (ii) empirical attempts to distinguish between QS and DS are misguided and will lead to confusion; (iii) the fundamental distinction is not be...

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Authors: West, SA; Winzer, K; Gardner, A; Diggle, S

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Trends in microbiology
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 586-594
• Publication date: 2012-12-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2012.09.004
• EISSN: 1878-4380
• ISSN: 0966-842X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Quorum Sensing