Social networks in the microbial world

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Most natural environments harbour diverse communities of microbes. Within these complex communities, such as in the human gut microbiota, different species of bacteria can coexist. Thus, it is crucial that within bacterial populations the individuals communicate in order to regulate and coordinate their grouped behaviour. Amongst the different strategies, the most common is the use of quorum sensing. These systems provide bacteria with the capacity to 'talk' to each other. The predatory behaviour of bacteriophages, a type of virus that infects bacteria, also shapes bacterial communities. Bacteriophages are key regulators of bacterial populations, not only by their influence in population growth dynamics but also by their ability to transfer genetic material between bacteria, contributing to the diversification of the bacterial genomes. Until recently, phages were considered mere bystanders in microbial communication networks. However, this program will explore the idea that phages are in fact key participants. The discovery of a phage-encoded quorum sensing system that influences group decisions opens up a new research field that we intend to explore in this work: do phages communicate with their host or with other mobile genetic elements? How do these social interactions occur? How do these interactions affect population dynamics or bacterial virulence? This programme will make significant contributions to different scientific fields, from addressing the molecular basis of fundamental biological processes to understanding the evolution of virulence and the spread of antibiotic resistance in nature.