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      Social behaviours by Bacillus subtilis: quorum sensing, kin discrimination and beyond

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          Summary

          Here, we review the multiple mechanisms that the Gram‐positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis uses to allow it to communicate between cells and establish community structures. The modes of action that are used are highly varied and include routes that sense pheromone levels during quorum sensing and control gene regulation, the intimate coupling of cells via nanotubes to share cytoplasmic contents, and long‐range electrical signalling to couple metabolic processes both within and between biofilms. We explore the ability of B. subtilis to detect ‘kin’ (and ‘cheater cells’) by looking at the mechanisms used to potentially ensure beneficial sharing (or limit exploitation) of extracellular ‘public goods’. Finally, reflecting on the array of methods that a single bacterium has at its disposal to ensure maximal benefit for its progeny, we highlight that a large future challenge will be integrating how these systems interact in mixed‐species communities.

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          Most cited references148

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          The biofilm matrix.

          The microorganisms in biofilms live in a self-produced matrix of hydrated extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that form their immediate environment. EPS are mainly polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids and lipids; they provide the mechanical stability of biofilms, mediate their adhesion to surfaces and form a cohesive, three-dimensional polymer network that interconnects and transiently immobilizes biofilm cells. In addition, the biofilm matrix acts as an external digestive system by keeping extracellular enzymes close to the cells, enabling them to metabolize dissolved, colloidal and solid biopolymers. Here we describe the functions, properties and constituents of the EPS matrix that make biofilms the most successful forms of life on earth.
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            The genetical evolution of social behaviour. I.

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              Quorum sensing in bacteria.

              Quorum sensing is the regulation of gene expression in response to fluctuations in cell-population density. Quorum sensing bacteria produce and release chemical signal molecules called autoinducers that increase in concentration as a function of cell density. The detection of a minimal threshold stimulatory concentration of an autoinducer leads to an alteration in gene expression. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria use quorum sensing communication circuits to regulate a diverse array of physiological activities. These processes include symbiosis, virulence, competence, conjugation, antibiotic production, motility, sporulation, and biofilm formation. In general, Gram-negative bacteria use acylated homoserine lactones as autoinducers, and Gram-positive bacteria use processed oligo-peptides to communicate. Recent advances in the field indicate that cell-cell communication via autoinducers occurs both within and between bacterial species. Furthermore, there is mounting data suggesting that bacterial autoinducers elicit specific responses from host organisms. Although the nature of the chemical signals, the signal relay mechanisms, and the target genes controlled by bacterial quorum sensing systems differ, in every case the ability to communicate with one another allows bacteria to coordinate the gene expression, and therefore the behavior, of the entire community. Presumably, this process bestows upon bacteria some of the qualities of higher organisms. The evolution of quorum sensing systems in bacteria could, therefore, have been one of the early steps in the development of multicellularity.
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                Author and article information

                Contributors
                Ines.MandicMulec@bf.uni-lj.si
                n.r.stanleywall@dundee.ac.uk
                Journal
                Mol Microbiol
                Mol. Microbiol
                10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2958
                MMI
                Molecular Microbiology
                John Wiley and Sons Inc. (Hoboken )
                0950-382X
                1365-2958
                01 November 2018
                December 2018
                : 110
                : 6 ( doiID: 10.1111/mmi.2018.110.issue-6 )
                : 863-878
                Affiliations
                [ 1 ] Division of Molecular Microbiology, School of Life Sciences University of Dundee Dundee DD15EH UK
                [ 2 ] Department of Food Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty University of Ljubljana Ljubljana 1000 Slovenia
                Author notes
                [*] [* ] For correspondence. E‐mails n.r.stanleywall@ 123456dundee.ac.uk (Nicola R. Stanley‐Wall); Ines.MandicMulec@ 123456bf.uni-lj.si (Ines Mandic‐Mulec).

                Author information
                http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5936-9721
                Article
                MMI14127
                10.1111/mmi.14127
                6334282
                30218468
                32616739-4095-4313-8359-5ea550316981
                © 2018 The Authors. Molecular Microbiology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

                This is an open access article under the terms of the http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

                History
                : 17 July 2018
                : 04 September 2018
                : 09 September 2018
                Page count
                Figures: 6, Tables: 1, Pages: 16, Words: 31896
                Funding
                Funded by: Slovenian research agency
                Award ID: [P4-0116; J4-7637; J4-9302]
                Funded by: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
                Award ID: P001335
                Award ID: R012415
                Award ID: 1
                Award ID: P4-0116,
                Award ID: J4-7637
                Categories
                MicroReview
                MicroReviews
                Custom metadata
                2.0
                mmi14127
                December 2018
                Converter:WILEY_ML3GV2_TO_NLMPMC version:version=5.5.4 mode:remove_FC converted:16.01.2019

                Microbiology & Virology
                Microbiology & Virology

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