Targeting quorum sensing for manipulation of commensal microbiota

      The Paper of the Day discusses the role of quorum sensing (QS) in bacterial communication and its interactions with the host. Quorum sensing is a widespread phenomenon among bacteria, where they produce and detect autoinducer molecules to coordinate gene expression and behaviors in a cell density-dependent manner. The document covers different types of autoinducers, including N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) and autoinducer-2 (AI-2), and the enzymes that can degrade these signaling molecules (quorum quenching). It also discusses the interactions between bacterial QS signals and host physiology, including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway and endocrine signaling. The document highlights the potential therapeutic applications of targeting QS/quorum quenching to manipulate the microbiota and treat chronic diseases associated with dysbiosis, such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.