Noisy neighbourhoods : quorum sensing in fungal–polymicrobial infections

Emily Dixon, Rebecca Hall

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)
166 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Quorum sensing was once considered a way in which a species was able to sense its cell density and regulate gene expression accordingly. However, it is now becoming apparent that multiple microbes can sense particular quorum sensing molecules, enabling them to sense and respond to other microbes in their neighbourhood. Such interactions are significant within the context of polymicrobial disease, in which the competition or cooperation of microbes can alter disease progression. Fungi comprise a small but important component of the human microbiome and are in constant contact with bacteria and viruses. The discovery of quorum sensing pathways in fungi has led to the characterisation of a number of interkingdom quorum sensing interactions. Here, we review the recent developments in quorum sensing in medically important fungi, and the implications these interactions have on the host’s innate immune response.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1431–1441
JournalCellular Microbiology
Volume17
Issue number10
Early online date3 Sept 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Sept 2015

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