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From Trisha's Desk Trisha E. O’Hehir, RDH, BS, Editorial Director, Hygienetown Magazine

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Quorum Sensing

Trisha E. O'Hehir, RDH, BS
Editorial Director,
Hygienetown Magazine




Every day in dental practices around the world, dentists and hygienists work together to diagnose and plan effective treatment for their patients. To bolster this natural collaboration, feature stories, content from the message boards of Hygienetown.com and Perio Reports research summaries are presented in every issue of Dentaltown Magazine. The goal of this section is to present topics that will create discussions between dentists and hygienists to ultimately improve dental hygiene outcomes.		 Bacteria talk to each other – a lot! Communication takes place between single, planktonic cells and between cells within a mature biofilm. Using both chemical and electrical modes of communication, single-cell bacteria react to their environment as a complex organism.

Through chemical communication the planktonic cells decide when they have the right number of cells to form a biofilm. When the quorum is reached, the bacteria communicate with each other and at the appointed moment, they all produce a polysaccharide slime that will form the matrix of the biofilm and hold them together as they grow into a tower or mushroom shape. The biofilm is approximately one-third bacteria and two-thirds slime and water.

Bacteria work in groups that “talk” to each other on a both chemical and electrical level. Individual bacteria produce and release tiny signaling molecules into the area around them. They also have receptors that can detect the signals of neighboring bacteria. The receptors are docking stations that allow signaling molecules to bind. The molecular binding triggers transcription of specific genes that stimulate the production of more signaling molecules. When there are only a few bacteria in the area, the signaling molecules can be diluted in extracellular fluid. As the number of bacteria increases, more signaling molecules find their way to receptor sites, stimulating the production and release of more signaling molecules. This creates a positive feedback loop, with more and more signaling molecules being produced and released as the number of bacteria grows.

Based on the number of signaling molecules reaching the docking stations, bacteria learn about their neighbors. When the number of bacteria reaches a specific number, or quorum, the bacteria in the area alter gene expression at the same time to produce and excrete the polysacharride matrix that forms the biofilm. This provides the structure and matrix that will hold them together to function as a community. This cell-to-cell communication allows bacteria to adapt to their complex and changing environment.

Understanding the cell-to-cell communication, known as “quorum sensing,” will influence future approaches to controlling oral bacteria biofilm formation. According to recent research, quorum sensing allows individual bacteria to work together and function as multicellular organisms. This might lead to new antimicrobial strategies for controlling quorum sensing. It’s not necessary to kill bacteria, if this communication system can be interrupted and biofilm formation prevented.

Besides chemical communication between bacteria, recent discoveries show that bacteria can actually grow electrical connections. Biofilm researchers have detected and photographed a complex communication system that looks like a spider web over bacteria. Electrical energy has been measured in this web between cells. These biological nanowires open a new direction in investigation of bacterial communication. It looks like bacteria have electronic e-mail. Perhaps they’re on www.bacteriatown.com, too!
Inside This Section Cover model: Lois Burgener, RDH graduated in 1980 from Southern Illinois University’s Dental Hygiene Program and completed the Arizona Expanded Functions Program at Northern Arizona University in 1984. In addition to dental hygiene, Lois is a Brain Gym instructor and consultant, a myofunctional therapist and a wellness coach. She currently works in clinical practice in Phoenix, Arizona and enjoys hiking, horseback riding and supporting her daughter at her equestrian events.
Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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