Rampant Cheating by Pathogens?

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 12; no. 9; p. e1005792
• Main Authors: Rundell, Ethan A, McKeithen-Mead, Saria A, Kazmierczak, Barbara I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.09.2016; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteria; Biology and Life Sciences; Cooperation; Costs; Gene expression; Genetic Fitness - immunology; Gram-Negative Bacteria - physiology; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - immunology; Health aspects; Humans; Immune response; Immune system; Infections; Infectious diseases; Inflammation; Medicine and Health Sciences; Pathogenesis; Pathogens; Pearls; Physiological aspects; Population; Public good; Research and Analysis Methods; Salmonella; Type III Secretion Systems - immunology; United States; United States > US; Connecticut
• ISSN: 1553-7374; 1553-7366; 1553-7374
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005792

Communication through quorum sensing allows bacteria to coordinate gene expression in a population density-dependent manner; biofilm formation increases population resistance to host- and antibiotic-related stresses. The mouse adaptive immune system preferentially targets and clears C. rodentium that produce the LEE virulence factors--rather than mutants lacking the LEE genes--in an antibody-dependent manner [9].\n Bacterial pathogens produce effectors of diverse function [reviewed in 12,13], suggesting that similar dynamics may occur for other bacteria, although this has not been demonstrated experimentally.