Bonnie Bassler (Princeton Univ) Part 1: Bacterial Communication via Quorum Sensing

Bacteria, primitive single-celled organisms, communicate with chemical languages that allow them to synchronize their behavior and thereby act as enormous multi-cellular organisms. This process is called quorum sensing and it enables bacteria to successfully infect and cause disease in plants, animals, and humans. Investigations of the molecular mechanisms underlying quorum sensing are leading to the development of novel strategies to interfere with quorum sensing. These strategies form the basis of new therapies to be used as antibiotics. See more at http://www.ibioseminars.org

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• bacteria
• quorum sensing
• bacterial communication
• bioluminescence
• Vibrio fisheri
• Vibrio harveyi
• Hawaiian bobtail squid
• acyl homoserine lactone
• AHL
• Lux protein
• autoinducer

[pacmaneex]

in terms of time, how long did it take you to perform all of these experiments and reach those conclusions? i'm assuming you had many misleads, or am i wrong?

p.s. great video, thanks!

[coolclay27]

Thank you very much for posting this video, it is very informative, and really assisted me in writing my nineth grade 15 page biology paper on Quorum sensing bacteria and their inhibitors.

[MagaCarey]

I wish there were more female scientists like you, Dr. Bassler.

[Qillz]

This is fascinating!

Unfortunately, the vid stopped part way through, so forgive me if you already answered this, but could the manipulation of the peptides in these quorum sensing systems be an answer to the problem of evolved resistance to antibiotics? 

[mglanfield432]

I have a molecular cell biology exam in 3 hours. this may have helped me pass! thanks

[thepermman]

you're probably well on your way to the cure of cancer

[kaalde88]

Wow! You gave one more reason why I want to be a bacteriologist. Arrowsmith was my first inspiration to persue bacteriology.