ASM Conference on Cell-Cell Communication in Bacteria

描述（由申请人提供）：仅在几年前， 细菌之间的化学信号或信息素被认为是例外 而不是规则。少数细胞间信号传导的例子 已经被很好地描述，包括生物发光调节系统， 费氏弧菌和哈维氏弧菌，肠球菌的接合转移系统 粪链球菌，链霉菌属的抗生素生产，和 黄色粘球菌多细胞子实体的发育。这是 假设大多数细菌不使用细胞间通讯。细胞间 细菌中的信号传递被认为是一个有趣的研究课题，但 对人类健康并不重要。在过去的十年里， 大量的细菌间信号传导的新例子已经被 报道这些系统调节许多过程，如毒力， 孢子形成、抗生素生产、DNA交换和 多细胞结构现在人们了解到，事实上，大多数细菌 通过分泌的化学分子相互交流。Enter-cellular 通讯系统之所以令人着迷，是因为它们允许细菌 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形式之间的区别 生命这些信号系统中的一些也是极其重要的， 人类健康，因为它们调节细菌的毒力决定因素 病原体 由于最近在细菌领域的研究激增， 交流及其在人类疾病中的作用，ASM决定提供一个 该领域的科学家有机会见面并讨论他们的研究， 举办了一个关于这个主题的科学会议。举行这次会议 2001年7月在犹他州的雪鸟。美国国立卫生研究院慷慨地支持了许多 研究细菌中细胞间通讯的研究人员， 希望NIH能与ASM一起为此提供财政援助， 即将召开的会议。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 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 Vibriofischeri 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 to human health. 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. Enter-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, because they regulate the virulence determinants of bacterial pathogens. Because of the recent explosion in research in the area of bacterial communication and its roles in human disease, the ASM has 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 200I. The NIH has generously supported many of the investigators that study cell-cell communication in bacteria, and it is hoped that the NIH will join ASM in providing financial assistance for this upcoming conference.