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Can bacteria communicate with each other, and if they do communicate, how and why do they do so? And how might understanding the mechanisms of bacterial communication be used to inform development of anti-bacterial drugs? In this album scientists involved in pioneering work into bacterial 'quorum sensing'' at Nottingham University in the UK reveal some of the techniques they use and give insight into what they hope to achieve. This material forms part of The Open University course S204 Biology: uniformity and diversity.
Track 4: A new approach to antibiotics?
Exploring the possiblility of developing new types of antibiotics interfere with the communication between bacteria, rather than killing the invading pathogens.
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Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Investigating bacterial communication | A short introduction to this album. Play now Investigating bacterial communication |
| 2 | Discovering bacterial communication | With antibiotic resistant bacteria constantly emerging, scientists are trying to find new types of anti bacterial drugs. One promising area of research is bacterial communication. Play now Discovering bacterial communication |
| 3 | Signal molecules | Quorum sensing is the process by which bacteria seem to communicate with each other and make decisions to behave en masse. The game of Risk as an analogue for the battles that go on within the body between pathogens and the body's defences Play now Signal molecules |
| 4 | A new approach to antibiotics? | Exploring the possiblility of developing new types of antibiotics interfere with the communication between bacteria, rather than killing the invading pathogens. Play now A new approach to antibiotics? |
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Looking at how some of the smallest living creatures can communicate with each other.