Upcoming Quantitative Life Sciences SEMINAR

[Quantitative Life Sciences]

_QUANTITATIVE LIFE SCIENCES SEMINAR_

FRIDAY, 24 APRIL 2015, 11:00 a.m.
L. STASI SEMINAR ROOM - ICTP Leonardo Bldg.

Vittorio VENTURI
International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB), 
Trieste


Title:
Bacteria as social and multicellular organisms; the role of quorum 
sensing signaling in the synchronization of bacterial behavior

Abstract

Cell-cell communication in bacteria occurs through small diffusible 
chemical signals that affect target gene expression in response to cell 
density. This form of intercellular bacterial signaling is known as 
quorum sensing and synchronizes metabolic and behavioral activities of a 
community of bacteria. Many of the activities which are regulated 
involve virulence associated factors in bacterial pathogens and 
symbiotic traits in host-beneficial bacteria. This is therefore a 
mechanism which controls multicellular behavior in bacteria and deeper 
understanding promises to shed light on the complexities of the 
host-microbe relationship and may lead to novel therapeutic 
applications. Bacterial quorum sensing has also introduced the aspect of 
bacteria being social organisms since via quorum sensing regulate the 
production of secreted ‘public goods’ which are available to all the 
neighboring bacterial population. During the seminar, quorum sensing 
will be introduced and current research lines in ICGEB-Bacteriology will 
be highlighted.


-- 
Erica Sarnataro
Group Secretary
Quantitative Life Sciences
The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP)
Trieste,  Italy
Tel. +39-040-2240623
e-mail:qls at ictp.it