Conference: Microbial Cell-Cell Signalling, to be held in Snowbird, Utah, July 6-9, 2001.

就在几年前，细菌之间的化学信号或信息素的交换还被认为是例外而不是规则。细胞-细胞信号传导的少数例子已经被很好地描述，包括费氏弧菌和哈氏弧菌的生物发光调节系统，粪肠球菌的接合转移系统，链霉菌属的抗生素生产，以及黄色粘球菌多细胞子实体的发育。假设大多数细菌不使用细胞间通讯。细菌中的细胞-细胞信号传导被认为是一个有趣的研究课题，但不是一个根本的重要性。在过去的十年中，大量的新的细菌间信号转导的例子已经被报道。这些系统调节许多过程，如毒力、孢子形成、抗生素产生、DNA交换和多细胞结构的发育。现在已经知道，事实上，大多数细菌通过分泌的化学分子相互交流。细胞间通讯系统非常吸引人，因为它们允许细菌协调控制整个群落的基因表达。这种能力从根本上模糊了单细胞和多细胞生命形式之间的区别。这些信号系统中的一些对人类健康以及我们环境中的植物和动物的健康也非常重要，因为它们调节细菌病原体的毒力决定因素。 由于最近在细菌传播领域的研究激增，ASM决定通过赞助关于这一主题的科学会议，为该领域的科学家提供一个会面和讨论他们研究的机会。会议将于2001年7月在犹他州的雪鸟举行。NSF慷慨地支持了许多研究细菌细胞间通讯的研究人员，现在加入ASM，为这次会议提供财政援助。

Only a few years ago, the exchange of chemical signals, or pheromones, between bacteria was considered the exception rather than the rule. A small number of examples of cell-cell signaling had been well described, including the bioluminescence regulatory systems of Vibrio fischeri and Vibrio harveyi, the conjugal transfer system of Enterococcus faecalis, the production of antibiotics by Streptomyces spp., and the development of multicellular fruiting bodies of Myxococcus xanthus. It was assumed that cell-cell communication was not used by most bacteria. Cell-cell signaling in bacteria was considered an interesting subject of research, but not one of fundamental importance. In the past ten years, an enormous number of new examples of inter-bacterial signaling have been reported. These systems regulate a number of processes as diverse as virulence, sporulation, antibiotic production, DNA exchange, and development of multicellular structures. It is now understood that, in fact, most bacteria communicate with one another using secreted chemical molecules. Inter-cellular communication systems are fascinating because they allow bacteria to coordinately control the gene expression of the entire community. This ability fundamentally blurs the distinction between unicellular and multicellular forms of life. Several of these signaling systems are also extremely important to human health and the health of plants and animals in our environment, because they regulate the virulence determinants of bacterial pathogens. Because of the recent explosion in research in the area of bacterial communication, the ASM decided to provide an opportunity for scientists in the field to meet and discuss their research, by sponsoring a scientific conference on this topic. The conference will be held at Snowbird, Utah, in July of 2001. The NSF has generously supported many of the investigators that study cell-cell communication in bacteria, and now joins ASM in providing financial assistance for this conference.