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PMID: 21123647 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Review

Dynamics in the mixed microbial concourse.

Genes & development ·Vol. 24 ·No. 23 ·2010-12-01 ·Pages 2603-14

Wintermute EH, Silver PA

Abstract

Isolated, clonal populations of cells are rarely found in nature. The emergent properties of microbial consortia present a challenge for the systems approach to biology, as chances for competition, communication, or collaboration multiply with the number of interacting agents. This review focuses on recent work on intercourse within biofilms, among quorum-sensing populations, and between cross-feeding metabolic cooperators. New tools from synthetic biology allow microbial interactions to be designed and tightly controlled, creating valuable model systems. We address both natural and synthetic partnerships, with an emphasis on how system behaviors derive from the properties of their components. Essential features of microbial biology arose in the context of a very mixed culture and cannot be understood without unscrambling it.

MeSH Terms
Aerobiosis Anaerobiosis Bacteria/metabolism Biological Evolution Ecosystem Feedback, Physiological Quorum Sensing Symbiosis/physiology
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Wintermute Edwin H
Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Silver Pamela A
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Article Info
Journal
Genes & development
Abbr.
Genes Dev
ISSN
1549-5477
DOI
10.1101/gad.1985210
Published
2010-12-01
Pages
2603-14
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
8711660
PMCID
PMC2994034
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1101/gad.1985210 PMC Full Text View journal details
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