Editing Quorum sensing (section)

==Viruses==
A mechanism involving [[arbitrium]] has recently been described in bacteriophages infecting several ''[[Bacillus]]'' species.<ref name = EwenCallaway2017 >{{cite journal |last1=Callaway |first1=Ewen |title=Do you speak virus? Phages caught sending chemical messages |journal=Nature |date=18 January 2017 |doi=10.1038/nature.2017.21313 }}</ref><ref name=Tal1>Stokar-Avihail A, Tal N, Erez Z, Lopatina A, Sorek R. Widespread Utilization of Peptide Communication in Phages Infecting Soil and Pathogenic Bacteria. ''Cell host & microbe''. 2019 May 8;25(5):746-55.</ref> The viruses communicate with each other to ascertain their own density compared to potential hosts. They use this information to decide whether to enter a [[lytic]] or [[lysogenic]] life-cycle.<ref name="Erez2017">{{cite journal | vauthors = Erez Z, Steinberger-Levy I, Shamir M, Doron S, Stokar-Avihail A, Peleg Y, Melamed S, Leavitt A, Savidor A, Albeck S, Amitai G, Sorek R | display-authors = 6 | title = Communication between viruses guides lysis-lysogeny decisions | journal = Nature | volume = 541 | issue = 7638 | pages = 488–493 | date = January 2017 | pmid = 28099413 | pmc = 5378303 | doi = 10.1038/nature21049 | bibcode = 2017Natur.541..488E }}</ref> This decision is crucial as it affects their replication strategy and potential to spread within the host population, optimizing their survival and proliferation under varying environmental conditions. This communication mechanism enables a coordinated infection strategy, significantly enhancing the efficiency of phage proliferation. By synchronizing their life cycles, bacteriophages can maximize their impact on the host population, potentially leading to more effective control of bacterial densities.