Quorum sensing (QS) has been discovered in diverse bacterial species and habitats, including marine ecosystems.
N-acyl homoserine lactones typically serve as signaling molecules in quorum sensing for gram-negative bacteria, whereas gram-positive bacteria generally employ autoinducing peptides for intercellular communication. However, these broad categories are not all-encompassing. Numerous bacterial species are known to produce unique autoinducers, underlining the diversity and specificity inherent in bacterial communication systems
[25]. In marine environments, the genera belonging to
Proteobacteria that commonly produce autoinducers (Ais) predominantly include
Pseudoalteromonas,
Thalassomonas,
Pseudomonas,
Roseobacter,
Aeromonas, and
Vibrio. QS has also been identified in
Epsilonproteobacteria, some of which are human pathogens. The thermal origin of this ability in mesophilic and pathogenic
Epsilonproteobacteria has been traced back to ocean hydrothermal vents
[26]. Among the different classes of signaling molecules,
N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), oligopeptides, and LuxS/autoinducer 2 (AI-2) have been extensively studied in marine environments
[27]. For instance, some marine bacteria, such as
Vibrio species, have been shown to employ multiple QS systems simultaneously, indicating a complex hierarchical organization of QS regulation that might differ from most terrestrial bacteria. Additionally, some marine bacteria are known to produce unique QS signal molecules, such as the boronated autoinducer AI-2 (BAI-2) in
Vibrio harveyi, which is a derivative of the more common AI-2 signal and is believed to be more stable in the marine environment.
Vibrio harveyi, a Gram-negative bacterium renowned for its bioluminescence, thrives predominantly in marine settings as a free-living organism. However, its versatility extends to engaging symbiotic and pathogenic relationships with diverse marine creatures
[28]. The crux of
V. harveyi’s ability to interact with its hosts lies in its quorum sensing system, a regulatory mechanism controlling its bioluminescence, biofilm development, and virulence factor expression. This complex system, which encompasses multiple signaling molecules, enables
V. harveyi to adapt and react to changes within its host environment and microbial community. In the quorum sensing (QS) network of
Vibrio harveyi, three autoinducers (Ais) are used, which differ based on whether they are for intra-species, intra-genera, or inter-species communication
[29]. Another common QS network structure is observed in the
Pseudomonas genus, particularly in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In marine ecosystems,
P. aeruginosa has been isolated from various niches, including coastal waters, marine sediments, and marine organisms
[30]. It is known for its robust biofilm formation capabilities, enabling it to survive in challenging marine conditions. This bacterium possesses four known QS pathways that function independently or in a coordinated manner. Two of these pathways are of the LuxI/LuxR type, specifically the LasI/LasR and RhlI/RhlR systems. Additionally,
P. aeruginosa uses the quinolone-based QS system (PQS, which uses the 2-heptyl3-hydroxy-4-quinolone signal) and more recently identified integrated QS system (IQS, utilizing the 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-thiazole-4-carbaldehyde signal). These QS circuits are arranged hierarchically (
Figure 1)
[31].