Biofilms and quorum sensing in pneumococcal biology

细菌通过发展复杂的多细胞群落(生物膜)在其环境利基中生存，而不是作为个体运作。细菌之间的交流对生物膜的形成至关重要，并与它们在物种内和物种之间交换DNA的能力(能力)有关。这是通过分泌和检测小的化学信号分子(群体感应)实现的。两个这样的系统在肺炎球菌中运行，肺炎球菌是一种典型的革兰氏阳性微生物。该项目旨在阐明这些群体感应系统相互作用和协作调节生物膜形成和能力的机制，这些表型对细菌的生存至关重要。这一知识将使未来开发新型抗菌剂成为可能。

Bacteria survive in their environmental niches by development of complex multicellular communities (biofilms), not by operating as individuals. Communication between bacteria is critical for biofilm formation, and is linked to their capacity to exchange DNA within and between species (competence). This is achieved by secretion and detection of small chemical signalling molecules (quorum sensing). Two such systems operate in the pneumococcus, a model Gram-positive organism. This project aims to elucidate the mechanism whereby these quorum sensing systems interact and collaborate to regulate biofilm formation and competence, phenotypes critical for bacterial survival. This knowledge will enable future development of novel antimicrobials.