Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Autoinducer-regulated Processes in Vibrio harveyi

Bacteria produce and excrete signaling molecules, so called autoinducers, to communicate in a process described as quorum sensing. Within the frame of the project will explore the interconnectivity between cell to cell communication and phenotypic heterogeneity of autoinducer-regulated processes in Vibrio harveyi, one of the best investigated model organisms in quorum sensing. We will investigate the spatiotemporal appearance of various autoinducer-regulated phenotypes at single cell level, the molecular mechanisms to program the available autoinducers, the switches responsible for (bi-) multi-stability and the advantages of subpopulations.