Bacteria orchestrate collective behaviors and accomplish feats that would be unsuccessful if carried out by a lone bacterium. Processes undertaken by groups of bacteria include bioluminescence, biofilm formation, virulence factor production, and release of public goods that are shared by the community. Collective behaviors are controlled by signal transduction networks that integrate sensory information and transduce the information internally. Here, we discuss network features and mechanisms that, even in the face of dramatically changing environments, drive precise execution of bacterial group behaviors. We focus on representative quorum-sensing and second-messenger cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP) signal relays. We highlight ligand specificity versus sensitivity, how small-molecule ligands drive discrimination of kin versus nonkin, signal integration mechanisms, single-input sensory systems versus coincidence detectors, and tuning of input-output dynamics via feedback regulation. We summarize how different features of signal transduction systems allow groups of bacteria to successfully interpret and collectively react to dynamically changing environments.

中文翻译：

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细菌集体行为背后的信号转导网络原理

细菌协调集体行为并完成如果由单独的细菌完成将无法成功的壮举。细菌群体进行的过程包括生物发光、生物膜形成、毒力因子产生以及社区共享的公共产品的释放。集体行为由信号传导网络控制，信号传导网络整合感官信息并在内部转换信息。在这里，我们讨论网络特征和机制，即使面对急剧变化的环境，也能驱动细菌群体行为的精确执行。我们专注于代表性群体感应和第二信使环状二聚 GMP (c-di-GMP) 信号继电器。我们重点关注配体特异性与敏感性、小分子配体如何驱动亲属与非亲属的区分、信号整合机制、单输入感觉系统与重合检测器，以及通过反馈调节调节输入输出动态。我们总结了信号转导系统的不同特征如何使细菌群成功地解释动态变化的环境并对其做出集体反应。