Quorum Sensing and Growth Rates in Vibrio harveyi
Author Information
Author(s): Nackerdien Zeena E., Keynan Alexander, Bassler Bonnie L., Lederberg Joshua, Thaler David S.
Primary Institution: Rockefeller University
Hypothesis
Growth rate is energy limited: mutants deficient in quorum sensing grow faster because wild type quorum sensing unleashes bioluminescence and bioluminescence diverts energy.
Conclusion
The effect of quorum sensing on Vibrio harveyi growth rate can be either positive or negative and includes both bioluminescence-dependent and independent components.
Supporting Evidence
- Bioluminescence tends to slow growth rate but not enough to account for the effects of quorum sensing on growth rate.
- A Vibrio harveyi mutant null for all genes encoding the bioluminescence pathway grew faster than wild type but not as fast as null mutants in quorum sensing.
- Cell-free culture fluids from a rapidly growing Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain increased the growth rate of wild type Vibrio harveyi without significantly altering its bioluminescence.
Takeaway
This study shows that how bacteria communicate can change how fast they grow, and that light production by these bacteria can slow them down, but it's not the only reason for their growth rates.
Methodology
Growth rate studies were conducted on isogenic Vibrio harveyi strains altered in quorum sensing and bioluminescence.
Limitations
The study's findings may not apply to all conditions or strains of Vibrio harveyi.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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