Archaea join the conversation: detection of AHL-like activity across a range of archaeal isolates

ABSTRACT Quorum sensing is a mechanism of genetic control allowing single cell organisms to coordinate phenotypic response(s) across a local population and is often critical for ecosystem function. Although quorum sensing has been extensively studied in bacteria comparatively less is known about thi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:FEMS microbiology letters 2020-08, Vol.367 (16), p.1
Main Authors: Charlesworth, James, Kimyon, Onder, Manefield, Michael, Beloe, Charlotte J, Burns, Brendan P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropogenic factors
Archaea
Archaeabacteria
Biosensors
Crosstalk
Ecological function
Environmental aspects
Genetic control
Local population
Microbiology
Phenotypes
Quorum sensing
Signaling
Thin layer chromatography
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Summary:ABSTRACT Quorum sensing is a mechanism of genetic control allowing single cell organisms to coordinate phenotypic response(s) across a local population and is often critical for ecosystem function. Although quorum sensing has been extensively studied in bacteria comparatively less is known about this mechanism in Archaea. Given the growing significance of Archaea in both natural and anthropogenic settings, it is important to delineate how widespread this phenomenon of signaling is in this domain. Employing a plasmid-based AHL biosensor in conjunction with thin-layer chromatography (TLC), the present study screened a broad range of euryarchaeota isolates for potential signaling activity. Data indicated the presence of 11 new Archaeal isolates with AHL-like activity against the LuxR-based AHL biosensor, including for the first time putative AHL activity in a thermophile. The presence of multiple signals and distinct changes between growth phases were also shown via TLC. Multiple signal molecules were detected using TLC in Haloferax mucosum, Halorubrum kocurii, Natronococcus occultus and Halobacterium salinarium. The finding of multiple novel signal producers suggests the potential for quorum sensing to play an important role not only in the regulation of complex phenotypes within Archaea but the potential for cross-talk with bacterial systems. A range of archaea were shown for the first time to activate bacterial biosensors and thus possess putative signalling activity.
ISSN:1574-6968
0378-1097
1574-6968
DOI:10.1093/femsle/fnaa123