Editing Quorum sensing (section)

=== Role of quorum sensing in biofilm development ===
Quorum sensing (QS) is used by bacteria to form biofilms. Quorum sensing is used by bacteria to form biofilms because the process determines if the minimum number of bacteria necessary for biofilm formation are present. The criteria to form a biofilm is dependent on a certain density of bacteria rather than a certain number of bacteria being present. When aggregated in high enough densities, some bacteria may form biofilms to protect themselves from biotic or abiotic threats.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Bogino |first1=P |last2=de las Mercedes Oliva |first2=M |date=July 30, 2013 |title=The Role of Bacterial Biofilms and Surface Components in Plant-Bacterial Associations |journal=International Journal of Molecular Sciences |volume=14 |issue=8 |pages=15838–15859 |doi=10.3390/ijms140815838 |pmid=23903045 |pmc=3759889 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Quorum sensing is used by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria because it aids cellular reproduction. Once in a biofilm, bacteria can communicate with other bacteria of the same species. Bacteria can also communicate with other species of bacteria. This communication is enabled through autoinducers used by the bacteria.<ref name="Miller Bassler 2001">{{cite journal |last1=Miller |first1=Melissa B. |last2=Bassler |first2=Bonnie L. |title=Quorum Sensing in Bacteria |journal=Annual Review of Microbiology |date=October 2001 |volume=55 |issue=1 |pages=165–199 |doi=10.1146/annurev.micro.55.1.165 |pmid=11544353 }}</ref>

Additionally, certain responses can be generated by the host organism in response to the certain bacterial autoinducers. Despite the fact that specific bacterial quorum sensing systems are different, for example the target genes, signal relay mechanisms, and chemical signals used between bacteria, the ability to coordinate gene expression for a specific species of bacteria remains the same. This ability alludes to the larger idea that bacteria have potential to become a multicellular bacterial body.<ref name="Miller Bassler 2001"/>

Secondly, biofilms may also serve to transport nutrients into the microbial community or transport toxins out by means of channels that permeate the extracellular polymeric matrix (like cellulose) that holds the cells together. Finally, biofilms are an ideal environment for horizontal gene transfer through either conjugation or environmental DNA (eDNA) that exists in the biofilm matrix.<ref name=":5"/>

The process of biofilm development is often triggered by environmental signals, and bacteria are proven to require flagella to successfully approach a surface, adhere to it, and form the biofilm.<ref name=":5" /> As cells either replicate or aggregate in a location, the concentration of autoinducers outside of the cells increases until a critical mass threshold is reached. At this point, it is energetically unfavorable for intracellular autoinducers to leave the cell and they bind to receptors and trigger a signaling cascade to initiate gene expression and begin secreting an extracellular polysaccharide to encase themselves inside.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Windsor |first1=W. Jon |title=How Quorum Sensing Works |url=https://asm.org/Articles/2020/June/How-Quorum-Sensing-Works |work=American Society for Microbiology |date=12 June 2020 }}</ref>

One modern method of preventing biofilm development without the use of antibiotics is with anti-QS substances, such ([[naringenin]], [[taxifolin]], etc.) that can be utilized as alternative form of therapy against bacterial virulence.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jiang |first1=Qian |last2=Chen |first2=Jiashun |last3=Yang |first3=Chengbo |last4=Yin |first4=Yulong |last5=Yao |first5=Kang |date=2019-04-04 |title=Quorum Sensing: A Prospective Therapeutic Target for Bacterial Diseases |journal=BioMed Research International |language=en |volume=2019 |pages=e2015978 |doi=10.1155/2019/2015978 |doi-access=free |pmid=31080810 |pmc=6475571 |issn=2314-6133}}</ref>