The research in my laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms that bacteria use for intercellular communication. Our goal is to understand how bacteria detect multiple environmental cues, and how the integration and processing of this information results in the precise regulation of gene expression.
The bacterial communication phenomenon that we study is called quorum sensing, which is a process that allows bacteria to communicate using secreted chemical signaling molecules called autoinducers. This process enables a population of bacteria to collectively regulate gene expression and, therefore, behavior. In quorum sensing, bacteria assess their population density by detecting the concentration of a particular autoinducer, which is correlated with cell density. This “census-taking” enables the group to express specific genes only at particular population densities. Quorum sensing is widespread; it occurs in numerous Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In general, processes controlled by quorum sensing are ones that are unproductive when undertaken by an individual bacterium but become effective when undertaken by the group. For example, quorum sensing controls bioluminescence, secretion of virulence factors, sporulation, and conjugation. Thus, quorum sensing is a mechanism that allows bacteria to function as multi-cellular organisms.
European researchers have created a new software abstraction called Autonomic Communication Elements (ACEs) which will enable ecosystems for service networks, and make the future ‘internet of things’ a reality, now.
The internet is evolving in front of our eyes: Web 2.0 is beginning to reach it is potential as a ‘platform’, a computing and service delivery system in its own right.
At the same time, we are already seeing the emergence of Telco 2.0: telecommunications providers are seeking to create the same sort of open environment for user-generated content and services potential that the web is now renowned for.
Services like mash-ups, combining applications such as Google maps and real estate listings to provide powerful new services from currently available tools and data. For example, Telco 2.0 will allow users to combine mapped property information with voicemail, SMS and other telecommunications enablers.
And this is just a prelude to other, perhaps more sophisticated, technologies like Web 3.0, the so-called ‘semantic web’. Add to this the ‘future internet’ and the proposed ‘internet of things’ linking people, devices, telecoms and data networks into one, vast network of networks.
It is an ambitious vision, but it all invites increasing complexity; complexity that could kill innovation before it gains traction.
The research in my laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms that bacteria use for intercellular communication. Our goal is to understand how bacteria detect multiple environmental cues, and how the integration and processing of this information results in the precise regulation of gene expression.
