Quorum Sensing: Microbial Networks Transforming Sciences

This article reveals that bacteria engage in a sophisticated form of chemical communication called "quorum sensing," functioning essentially as a microbial internet that has operated for billions of years. Research from the University of Copenhagen has documented how soil bacteria exchange over 200 distinct molecular signals, with specific "translator" bacterial species facilitating communication between different microbial communities. This discovery has practical applications in sustainable agriculture, where "bacterial diplomacy" has reduced fertilizer requirements by restoring communication networks in depleted soils. The findings extend to human health, where researchers have found that gut bacteria use similar mechanisms to coordinate with our immune system, leading to new "quorum mediator" treatments that repair communication rather than eliminate bacteria. Computer scientists are also modeling distributed computing systems after these bacterial networks, creating more energy-efficient and resilient systems, while raising profound questions about our understanding of intelligence and consciousness.

https://www.ihadnoclue.com/article/1122767286925426689