群体感应对细菌生物膜及细菌耐药性影响的研究进展

群体感应作为微生物间的特殊通信感应系统,通过合成、分泌信号分子控制着整个细菌群体行为。群体感应直接参与细菌生物膜的形成过程,进而影响着细菌耐药性的传播扩散。本文综述了群体感应对生物被膜形成和细菌耐药性的传播扩散的影响,以及群体感应抑制剂在生物被膜形成和抗生素耐药性的传播扩散过程中的作用,并结合国内外研究现状,对细菌耐药性未来研究重点进行了展望。     

群体感应抑制剂对费氏弧菌生物荧光随时间变化Hormesis效应的机制探究

群体感应抑制剂(quorum sensing inhibitor,QSIs)是作用于细菌群体感应系统的一类新型抗菌药物.目前关于QSIs引起Hormesis效应的机制探究较少.本文以费氏弧菌(Aliivibrio fischeri,A.fischeri)为模式生物,测定了3种高丝氨酸内酯(N-Acyl homoseri...     

藻际环境铁载体细菌的筛选及群体感应信号对其合成的调节作用

铁载体是海洋微生物获取铁元素的重要代谢因子，现有的一些研究推测海洋微生物铁代谢功能的发挥依赖群体效应，但海洋微生物群体行为的介导方式及其对铁载体功能的调节还未见揭示.为深入了解微生物的铁代谢特征，以藻际微生物为例，从中分离筛选产铁载体的细菌，并探讨群体感应信号（QS）对其合成的调控作用.利用稀释涂布法从甲藻赤潮样品中分离得到5株产铁载体的细菌，16Sr RNA基因序列鉴定为新鞘氨醇杆菌（Novosphingobium sp.）、鞘氨醇单胞菌（Sphingomonas sp.）、寡养单胞菌（Stenotrophomonas sp.）、嗜水气单胞菌（Aeromonas hydr ophi la）和根瘤菌（R hizobiumar enae）.铬天青S(CAS)检测法结合化学显色反应分析显示，细菌分泌的铁载体主要包括羧酸盐、异羟肟酸、儿茶酚和肠杆菌素.薄层色谱法（TLC）检测到4株细菌具有明显产群体感应信号的能力，信号分子主要为高丝氨酸内酯（AHLs）AHL-C8、AHL-C8-O以及AHL-10.为验证群体感应信号对铁载体的调节能力，以新鞘氨醇杆菌为代表构建AHL突变株，通过突变株与野生株...     

信号分子对类球红细菌(Rhodobacter sphaeroides)碳源利用的影响

类球红细菌拥有cer群体感应系统.它既有细胞间信息传递的功能,也对碳源利用进行调节.为调查自诱导物对碳源利用的影响,在仅少量EDTA作唯一能源物的培养基中加入N-(tetradecanoyl)-DL-homoserine lactone,通过测定活菌数变化观察这种类球红细菌自诱导物的结构类似物对碳源利用的影响.然后利用Biolog-GN鉴定板,在加入外源信号分子和对照的条件下,研究了类球红细菌正常培养与饥饿培养下对95种单一碳源的不同利用情况.结果表明,在存在信号分子的饥饿情况下,细菌能更好的利用EDTA维持活菌数量.当培养到6h的时候,加入信号分子培养的鉴定板中,正常培养情况下细菌对碳源的利用丰富度指数最高;而在饥饿培养情况下细菌能利用更多种类的碳源.     

群体感应信号分子存在下磺胺对大肠杆菌生长、突变及R388质粒接合转移的影响

抗生素的滥用使细菌耐药性问题日益突出,给许多疾病的预防与控制增加了难度。基因突变和质粒接合转移是细菌获得抗生素抗性基因的主要方式,许多研究围绕抗性基因来展开,但是关于群体感应对于抗性基因产生和传播的影响鲜有报道。本文以大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)为模式生物,群体感应信号分子N-(β-酮己酰)-L-高丝氨酸内酯(3-oxo-C6-HSL,C6)和3种磺胺类抗生素(磺胺嘧啶、磺胺甲恶唑、磺胺氯哒嗪)为研究对象,测定了其对大肠杆菌生长效应、突变效应及接合转移效应的影响。结果表明:C6不影响磺胺对大肠杆菌的生长抑制率,但能够削弱磺胺对大肠杆菌突变的促进作用,并且能增强磺胺对大肠杆菌R388质粒接合转移的抑制作用。本文为从群体感应角度研究大肠杆菌耐药性的产生与传播提供新思路。     

磺胺类抗生素与群体感应抑制剂对发光菌的联合毒性及其机制初探

以Vibrio fischeri为模式生物,3类群体感应抑制剂(呋喃酮、吡咯酮和吡咯)与典型磺胺类抗生素为研究对象,测定了群体感应抑制剂与磺胺类抗生素联合急性毒性效应,通过群体感应抑制剂与信号分子竞争结合LuxR的实验和结合能Ebinding的测定,初步探讨了其联合毒性作用机制.结果显示,呋喃酮类化合物与磺胺类抗生素的二元等毒性比下的联合效应表现为协同与加和,吡咯酮类、吡咯类化合物与磺胺类抗生素的二元等毒性比下的联合效应分别表现为加和与拮抗;它们与LuxR的竞争结合力的差异,可能是它们与磺胺类抗生素等毒性比下的联合效应不同的原因.     

基于QSAR模型的磺胺与群体感应抑制剂对枯草芽孢杆菌联合慢性毒性规律初探

群体感应抑制剂是抗生素最有可能的替代品,两者在环境中的共存会对生物造成联合毒性影响。以革兰氏阳性菌枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis,B.subtilis)为模式生物,3种群体感应抑制剂(呋喃酮、吡咯酮和吡咯)和磺胺类药物为研究对象,测定了20 h单一和联合毒性。结果显示,3种群体感应抑制剂和磺胺的联合毒性分别表现为相加和拮抗。同时根据不同的联合毒性效应,以药物和蛋白分子的对接结合能(Ebinding)作为结构参数分别构建了联合毒性的QSAR模型,并分析了不同毒性效应下混合物中各组分的相互作用关系。结果表明,无论是相加还是拮抗,在二元混合体系中磺胺与其靶蛋白DHPS的有效结合浓度总是高于群体感应抑制剂与Lux S的有效结合浓度;但当产生拮抗作用时,磺胺与DHPS的有效结合浓度相对较低,推测可能是群体感应抑制剂的存在使得磺胺由分子态变为离子态,从而使其难以穿过细胞壁与DHPS结合导致的。本研究为建立和分析联合毒性的QSAR模型提供了一定的理论基础。     

群体感应信号对“藻—菌”关系的调节作用

藻类的生消过程中有多种微生物参与,其结构多样性和功能多样性构成了藻菌间复杂的共生关系.这些共生关系的行使依赖于一定的群体数量和组成结构,并受化学信号调节.本文聚焦于群体感应信号(Quorum sensing,QS),从化学生态学视角综述QS信号介导下的微生物行为.生存在微生物群落中的个体并非以单个形式独立存在,而是具有一定的结构,且个体之间存在广泛的交流,QS信号便是通讯语言之一.细菌可以利用QS信号进行信息交流,协调群体行为,并调控特定基因表达.QS介导下的菌群行为包括在藻际生态位(Niche)的营造、生物被膜(Biofilm)的形成、物质代谢(C、N、S、Fe)的调节以及对溶藻行为的调控等.藻菌关系除了受QS调节外,其抑制剂(Quorum sensing inhibitor,QSI)也参与藻菌的共生关系.基于共生环境中存在着对藻类影响性质各异的菌群(有益菌或有害菌),开发QS或QSI是干扰藻菌关系、抑制藻类生长的潜在方法,可为赤潮的有效防控提供借鉴.     

好氧颗粒污泥耐受高碳氮负荷过程中的群体感应

为了探究好氧颗粒污泥耐受高负荷碳氮的生物学机制,对比分析了不同负荷条件下好氧颗粒对污染物的去除、形体结构和群体感应现象.结果表明,好氧颗粒污泥具有同时耐受高碳氮负荷的能力,当进水COD负荷为12.9 kg m-3 d-1时去除率为90%以上,NH4+-N负荷为0.455 kg m-3 d-1时去除率在80%以上.随着负荷的提高,颗粒的粒径不断减小,这可能增强颗粒的传质传氧作用.在进水负荷COD 8.9-10.9 kg m-3 d-1、NH4+-N 0.355-0.455 kg m-3 d-1时,AI-2活性较强,微生物之间相互交流比较活跃,并且保持较好的COD和NH4+-N去除效果.好氧颗粒污泥内部的AI-2活性高于出水溶液.研究表明,群体感应可能在好氧颗粒污泥同时耐受高碳氮负荷中发挥着重要的作用.     

磺胺与群体感应抑制剂对费氏弧菌发光和生长联合毒性效应对比研究

抗生素类药物在广泛应用的同时,也带来了细菌耐药性问题。因此,越来越多的抗生素替代品如群体感应抑制剂(QSIs)被研究和应用,在未来二者可能共存于环境之中。为了对它们混合物联合毒性评价进行系统的研究,本文选择费氏弧菌(Vibrio fischeri,V.fischeri)为受试生物,测定了5种磺胺类抗生素(SAs)与6种QSIs对V.fischeri的发光强度(HV)和生长量(OD600)的联合毒性作用,初步探讨了SAs与QSIs对V.fischeri发光联合毒性和生长联合毒性差异的原因。结果表明:SAs与QSIs联合作用于V.fischeri时,对发光的联合毒性表现为拮抗,对生长的联合毒性表现为拮抗或加和,且TUHVTUOD。这可能是由于QSIs对V.fischeri的发光的抑制作用可以削弱SAs对发光的促进作用,而SAs与QSIs对V.fischeri的生长都表现出抑制作用,两者没有互相削弱作用。同时,基于分子对接和回归分析法的研究表明了靶蛋白上结合的化合物有效浓度不同也可能是造成SAs与QSIs联合作用于V.fischeri时TUHVTUOD的主要原因。该研究可以为抗生素与QSIs联合暴露的生态风险评价提供借鉴。     

Quorum sensing regulation methods and their effects on biofilm in biological waste treatment systems: A review

• Quorum sensing enhancement and inhibition methods are summarized. • Effects of quorum sensing regulation on biofilm are reviewed. • Current knowledge gaps and research challenges are proposed. Quorum sensing (QS) plays an important role in microbial aggregation control. Recently, the optimization of biological waste treatment systems by QS regulation gained an increasing attention. The effects of QS regulation on treatment performances and biofilm were frequently investigated. To understand the state of art of QS regulation, this review summarizes the methods of QS enhancement and QS inhibition in biological waste treatment systems. Typical QS enhancement methods include adding exogenous QS molecules, adding QS accelerants and cultivating QS bacteria, while typical QS inhibition methods include additions of quorum quenching (QQ) bacteria, QS-degrading enzymes, QS-degrading oxidants, and QS inhibitors. The specific improvements after applying these QS regulation methods in different treatment systems are concluded. In addition, the effects of QS regulation methods on biofilm in biological waste treatment systems are reviewed in terms of biofilm formation, extracellular polymeric substances production, microbial viability, and microbial community. In the end, the knowledge gaps in current researches are analyzed, and the requirements for future study are suggested.     

Humans use social information to adjust their quorum thresholds adaptively in a simulated predator detection experiment

Quorum sensing is used in many biological systems to increase decision accuracy. In quorum sensing, the probability that an individual adopts a behavior is a nonlinear function of the number of other individuals adopting this behavior. From an optimal decision-making perspective, individuals should adjust their quorum threshold to the particulars of the decision problem. Recent work predicts that a key factor here is the quality of social information. In particular, it is predicted that individuals should adjust their quorum thresholds such that it lies in between the average true and false positive rate of the other group members. We here test this prediction with a predator detection experiment. First, human groups observed a group of animals (projected on a white screen) in which a predator was present or absent, and each individual made an independent decision to escape or not. Second, individuals received social information on the decisions of their group members, after which individuals decided again. This social information, however, did not represent their own decisions but consisted of responses that either came from a high-performing group (i.e., many individuals detecting the predator) or from a low-performing group (i.e., few individuals detecting the predator). We found that individuals adaptively adjust their quorum threshold to the quality of the social information: when receiving social information from high-performing groups, individuals employed higher quorum thresholds than when receiving information from low-performing groups. Our study demonstrates that humans can quickly evaluate the quality of publicly available information and adaptively adjust their decision rules.     

Synergy between pheromone trails and quorum thresholds underlies consensus decisions in the ant Myrmecina nipponica

Coordination of group actions in social organisms is often a self-organised process lacking central control. These collective behaviours are driven by mechanisms of positive feedback generated through information exchange. Understanding how different methods of communication generate positive feedback is an essential step in comprehending the functional mechanisms underlying complex systems. The Japanese small-colony ant, Myrmecina nipponica uses both pheromone trails and an apparent quorum response during consensus decisions over a new home. Both of these mechanisms have been shown to generate positive feedback and are effective means of selecting among mutually exclusive courses of action. In this study, I investigate how pheromone trails and quorum thresholds contribute to consensus decisions during house-hunting in this species through experimental manipulations of pheromone trails, colony size and environmental context. Results demonstrate that (1) providing colonies with pre-established pheromone trails increased the number of ants finding the new site and led to higher quorum thresholds and more rapid relocations, (2) experimentally halving colony size resulted in a proportional decrease in quorum thresholds and (3) colonies relocating long distances had higher quorums than those relocating short distances. Taken together, these data indicate that pheromone trails are important for recruitment and navigation during nest site selection, but that decision making is contingent on a quorum response. Such synergy between mechanisms of positive feedback may be a common means of optimising collective behaviours.     

Choosing a home: how the scouts in a honey bee swarm perceive the completion of their group decision making

This study considers the mystery of how the scout bees in a honey bee swarm know when they have completed their group decision making regarding the swarm's new nest site. More specifically, we investigated how the scouts sense when it is appropriate for them to begin producing the worker piping signals that stimulate their swarm-mates to prepare for the flight to their new home. We tested two hypotheses: "consensus sensing," the scouts noting when all the bees performing waggle dances are advertising just one site; and "quorum sensing," the scouts noting when one site is being visited by a sufficiently large number of scouts. Our test involved monitoring four swarms as they discovered, recruited to, and chose between two nest boxes and their scouts started producing piping signals. We found that a consensus among the dancers was neither necessary nor sufficient for the start of worker piping, which indicates that the consensus sensing hypothesis is false. We also found that a buildup of 10–15 or more bees at one of the nest boxes was consistently associated with the start of worker piping, which indicates that the quorum sensing hypothesis may be true. In considering why the scout bees rely on reaching a quorum rather than a consensus as their cue of when to start preparing for liftoff, we suggest that quorum sensing may provide a better balance between accuracy and speed in decision making. In short, the bees appear to begin preparations for liftoff as soon as enough of the scout bees, but not all of them, have approved of one of the potential nest sites.

典型抗生素与群体感应抑制剂对费氏弧菌的三元慢性联合毒性

群体感应抑制剂(quorum sensing inhibitor,QSIs)广泛应用之后与环境中现有抗菌药物共存的趋势不可避免。为了评价QSIs和现有抗菌药物共存所引起的生态环境效应,本文以费氏弧菌(Vibrio fischeri)作为模式生物,磺胺类抗生素磺胺氯哒嗪(SCP)、磺胺类增效剂甲氧苄嘧啶(TMP)和群体感应抑制剂4-溴-5-溴亚甲基-2(5氢)-呋喃酮(FC-30)为研究对象,测定了以上3个化合物对Vibrio fischeri的单一/混合慢性毒性效应。单一慢性毒性结果表明,3个化合物的毒性大小如下:FC-30SCPTMP,混合慢性毒性结果表明三元混合体系联合效应为拮抗。进一步分析可知,SCP+FC-30和TMP+FC-30两个混合体系的拮抗作用是三元混合体系为拮抗效应的根本原因。最后指出,因为SCP、TMP和FC-30的三元混合体系是拮抗作用,所以从环境生态风险角度分析,三者联合用药对环境的影响小于单一用药。     

磺胺类抗生素对不同革兰氏阴性菌的毒物兴奋效应研究

抗生素滥用所导致的环境问题日益受到人们的关注,抗生素在环境中常以低剂量的形式暴露,生物体在低浓度的抗生素作用下通常会表现出毒物兴奋效应(hormesis)。因此,研究抗生素的hormesis,对抗生素的生态风险评价极其重要。为了研究抗生素的hormesis,本文选取4种磺胺类抗生素为研究对象,观测了不同浓度培养基下磺胺对大肠杆菌能否产生hormesis。结果表明,磺胺对大肠杆菌在原倍和0.8倍浓度的培养基下不产生hormesis,在0.6和0.4倍浓度的培养基下产生hormesis;并且,结合我们之前对另一种革兰氏阴性菌——费氏弧菌hormesis的研究可知,对于具有不同群体感应系统的2种革兰氏阴性菌,都存在hormesis,磺胺可以通过作用群体感应系统使革兰氏阴性菌产生hormesis,只是hormesis的大小不同。上述研究结果为抗生素的生态风险评价提供了依据,为hormesis的相关研究提供了参考。     

In search of quorum effects in metacommunity structure: species co-occurrence analyses

Alternative models of community assembly emphasize regional, stochastic, dispersal-based processes or local, deterministic, niche-based processes. Community ecology's historical focus on local processes implicitly assumes that local processes surpass regional processes over time or across space to derive nonrandom metacommunity structure (i.e., a quorum effect). Quorum effects are expected late in succession among nearby sites, whereas quorum effects are not expected early in succession among distant sites. I conducted a meta-analysis of zooplankton data sets encompassing time scales of one to thousands of years and spatial scales of <1 m to thousands of kilometers. Species co-occurrence analyses statistically evaluated presence/absence patterns relative to random patterns obtained with Monte Carlo null models. A series of weighted analyses was conducted and alternative randomization algorithms and null models were evaluated. Most zooplankton metacommunities were randomly structured in unweighted analyses, and the distribution of significant structure did not follow quorum effect predictions. Weighted analyses (e.g., by habitat area) revealed significant, nonrandom structure in most zooplankton metacommunities, but the distribution of significant structure still did not adhere well to quorum effect predictions. Finally, additional weighting for study scale (number of sites) nullified most significant area-weighted structure, and again, the distribution of significant structure did not follow quorum effect predictions. Overall, a quorum effect was not supported, perhaps related to zooplankton life histories and energetics and/or the quorum effect itself. Results at the presence/absence level of resolution indicated that local processes did not generally override regional processes over time or across space to drive community structure. A full integration of dispersal- and niche-based concepts in metacommunity dynamics will be most fruitful for unraveling community assembly. Species co-occurrence analyses were scale dependent (habitat area and study size). Future analyses should use weights for important factors (e.g., habitat area), and meta-analyses should include study scale as an additional factor contributing to apparent patterns.     

微生物砷还原机制的研究进展

砷是一种剧毒物质,环境中的砷对人体健康存在潜在威胁,因此长期以来备受关注.微生物的各种代谢过程对砷在环境中的归趋起着重要作用,其中砷还原微生物能将吸附于固体矿物中的As(Ⅴ)还原为可溶性强的As(Ⅲ),使砷进入液相,从而加剧了地下水等饮用水源的砷污染.论文主要介绍了两种微生物砷还原机制(异化砷还原和细胞质砷还原)在作用...