황환원 세균의 quorum-sensing 유사 현상

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of metal is common in the natural environment and sulfate reducing bacteria are representative microorganisms for MIC. We found that biofilm fomlation by SRB on the metal surface might be controlled by quorum sensing, which is a cell density dependent regulation of cell metabolism. As cell free culture fluids (spent media) of Desulfovibrio vulgaris and D. desulfuricans were tested for quontrn sensing related test strains, it was found that spent media of two SRB induced increased luminescence of Vibrio harveyi BB886 (sensor 1+, sensor 2-) and BB170 (sensor 1-, sensor 2+). Quorum activities of D. vulgaris and D. desulfuricans appeared to be parallel to growth patterns, i.e., it was low in the lag phase, highly increased in the exponential phase, and reached maximum in the stationary phase. Interestingly, however, luminescence of V. harveyi BB886 and BB170 induced by a unit cell mass of the SHB showed a maximal peak in the late lag phase. Hence, it was suspected that quorum sensing of these two SHB play unknown roles in shifting cells from dormant to growth stages.