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Quorum sensing as a mechanism to harness the wisdom of the crowds

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Listed:
  • Stefany Moreno-Gámez

    (Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Michael E. Hochberg

    (ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE
    Santa Fe Institute)

  • G. S. Doorn

    (Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen)

Abstract

Bacteria release and sense small molecules called autoinducers in a process known as quorum sensing. The prevailing interpretation of quorum sensing is that by sensing autoinducer concentrations, bacteria estimate population density to regulate the expression of functions that are only beneficial when carried out by a sufficiently large number of cells. However, a major challenge to this interpretation is that the concentration of autoinducers strongly depends on the environment, often rendering autoinducer-based estimates of cell density unreliable. Here we propose an alternative interpretation of quorum sensing, where bacteria, by releasing and sensing autoinducers, harness social interactions to sense the environment as a collective. Using a computational model we show that this functionality can explain the evolution of quorum sensing and arises from individuals improving their estimation accuracy by pooling many imperfect estimates – analogous to the ‘wisdom of the crowds’ in decision theory. Importantly, our model reconciles the observed dependence of quorum sensing on both population density and the environment and explains why several quorum sensing systems regulate the production of private goods.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefany Moreno-Gámez & Michael E. Hochberg & G. S. Doorn, 2023. "Quorum sensing as a mechanism to harness the wisdom of the crowds," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-37950-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37950-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vera Bettenworth & Simon Vliet & Bartosz Turkowyd & Annika Bamberger & Heiko Wendt & Matthew McIntosh & Wieland Steinchen & Ulrike Endesfelder & Anke Becker, 2022. "Frequency modulation of a bacterial quorum sensing response," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Jordi van Gestel & Tasneem Bareia & Bar Tenennbaum & Alma Dal Co & Polina Guler & Nitzan Aframian & Shani Puyesky & Ilana Grinberg & Glen G. D’Souza & Zohar Erez & Martin Ackermann & Avigdor Eldar, 2021. "Short-range quorum sensing controls horizontal gene transfer at micron scale in bacterial communities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
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