J Chem Ecol (2016) 42:1201–1211
DOI 10.1007/s10886-016-0791-y
REVIEW ARTICLE
Quorum Sensing and Quorum Quenching in the Phycosphere
of Phytoplankton: a Case of Chemical Interactions in Ecology
Jean Luc Rolland 1 & Didier Stien 2 & Sophie Sanchez-Ferandin 3 & Raphaël Lami 2
Received: 23 February 2016 / Revised: 20 September 2016 / Accepted: 5 October 2016 / Published online: 7 November 2016
# Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016
Abstract The interactions between bacteria and phyto-
plankton regulate many important biogeochemical reac-
tions in the marine environment, including those in the
global carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. At the micro-
scopic level, it is now well established that important
consortia of bacteria colonize the phycosphere, the im-
mediate environment of phytoplankton cells. In this mi-
croscale environment, abundant bacterial cells are orga-
nized in a structured biofilm, and exchange information
through the diffusion of small molecules called semio-
chemicals. Among these processes, quorum sensing
plays a particular role as, when a sufficient abundance
of cells is reached, it allows bacteria to coordinate their
gene expression and physiology at the population level.
In contrast, quorum quenching mechanisms are
employed by many different types of microorganisms
that limit the coordination of antagonistic bacteria.
This review synthesizes quorum sensing and quorum
quenching mechanisms evidenced to date in the
phycosphere, emphasizing the implications that these
* Raphaël Lami
raphael.lami@obs-banyuls.fr
1
Interactions-Hôtes-Pathogènes-Environnements (IHPE), Ifremer,
CNRS, UPVD, Université de Montpellier, UMR 5244,
34090 Montpellier, France
2
Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire de
Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes (LBBM),
Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
3
Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire de
Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins (BIOM), Observatoire
Océanologique, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
signaling systems have for the regulation of bacterial
communities and their activities. The diversity of chem-
ical compounds involved in these processes is exam-
ined. We further review the bacterial functions regulated
in the phycosphere by quorum sensing, which include
biofilm formation, nutrient acquisition, and emission of
algaecides. We also discuss quorum quenching com-
pounds as antagonists of quorum sensing, their function
in the phycosphere, and their potential biotechnological
applications. Overall, the current state of the art demon-
strates that quorum sensing and quorum quenching reg-
ulate a balance between a symbiotic and a parasitic way
of life between bacteria and their phytoplankton host.
Keywords Quorum sensing . Quorum quenching .
Phytoplankton . Phycosphere
Definition of Phycosphere of Phytoplankton
The term Bphycosphere^, was first used in the 70’s (Bell and
Mitchell 1972) to describe the immediate region surrounding
an algal cell, chain, or colony. It describes a microbial habitat
deeply shaped by the alga. This microenvironment is com-
posed of bacteria measuring between 0.2 and 2 μm around
algae varying between 2 and 200 μm (Sieburth et al. 1978).
The phycosphere supports bacteria in higher concentrations
than in the water column. For example, the concentration of
8.2 × 108 to 2.6 × 1011 bacteria ml−1 reported to surround the
alga Trichodesmium (Paerl 1982; Sheridan et al. 2002) is
much higher than the average concentration of 5 × 105 cells
ml−1 found in the seawater. Similarly, 107–108 culturable bac-
terial cells have been reported per gram of Botryococcus
braunii, a green microalga (Rivas et al. 2010). Several studies
have revealed that the phycosphere bacterial communities
1202
from different phytoplankton cells are complex and taxonom-
ically diverse (Delong et al. 1993; Fandino et al. 2001;
Hasegawa et al. 2007; Rooney-Varga et al. 2005; Sapp et al.
2007; Tuomainen et al. 2006). In addition, this microscale
environment is regulated by the release of extracellular prod-
ucts by the algae, feeding a large consortium of inhabiting
bacteria (Bell and Mitchell 1972).
Quorum Sensing in the Phycosphere
of Phytoplankton
Definition of Quorum Sensing Quorum sensing is a term
describing a cell-to-cell bacterial communication system,
allowing bacteria to adapt their physiological response to the
ambient bacterial density (Fuqua et al. 1994; Nealson 1977).
Bacteria engaged in quorum sensing emit small molecules car-
rying information (semiochemicals) that are called autoinducers
(Schulz 2014), and simultaneously detect (and control) their
concentration. At low bacterial concentrations, low concentra-
tions of autoinducers are present in the immediate environment,
and cells display individual phenotypes and behaviors. When
the concentration of autoinducers reaches a certain threshold,
reflecting an increase in local cell density, bacteria switch their
genetic and physiological program and display collective phe-
notypes and comportments (Fuqua et al. 1994). These commu-
nication mechanisms induce numerous transduction cascades
and regulate the expression of many genes (Bassler 1999).
They are known to influence bacterial metabolism and pheno-
types, including the establishment of biofilms (Parsek and
Greenberg 2005), bioluminescence (Nealson 1977; Waters
and Bassler 2005), and virulence (Smith and Iglewski 2003)
among other functions (Diggle et al. 2007).
Experimental Approaches Used to Characterize Quorum
Sensing in the Phycosphere Most of the studies reported in
this review are based on a similar workflow. First, bacterial
strains are isolated from natural seawater sampled during a
phytoplankton bloom (Bachofen and Schenk 1998), or are iso-
lated from algae cultures (Geng and Belas 2010; Gram et al.
2002; Schaefer et al. 2008; Wagner-Döbler et al. 2005). The
capacity of the isolated strains to communicate by quorum
sensing then is tested using bacterial whole cell sensing-
systems (biosensors) (Patzelt et al. 2013; Rivas et al. 2010;
Wagner-Döbler et al. 2005), such as Escherichia coli JB523
(Andersen et al. 2001), Chromobacterium violaceum CV026
(McClean et al. 1997), and Vibrio harveyi JMH612 (Henke
and Bassler 2004) to name a few examples among many others.
These genetically modified organisms encode the purple pigment
violacein (1) or the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), and lumi-
nesce in the presence of exogenous acyl homoserine lactones
(AHLs), the most studied quorum sensing semiochemicals.
Such an approach using genetically modified organisms to detect
J Chem Ecol (2016) 42:1201–1211
the expression of AHLs is required, as these compounds are
present in low concentrations in water and technically difficult
to be directly quantified in situ (Hmelo and Van Mooy 2009). A
few reports mention the possibility of detecting AHLs directly in
seawater particles (Hmelo et al. 2011), which can also avoid
potential false positive results acquired when using biosensors
(Holden et al. 1999).
Further steps deal with the characterization of AHLs. In gen-
eral, bacterial supernatants containing AHLs are extracted, usu-
ally with ethyl acetate. Preliminary studies relied on thin layer
liquid chromatography (TLC) (Gram et al. 2002; Rivas et al.
2010). More recent ones are frequently based on liquid chroma-
tography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) (Schaefer
et al. 2008), gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrom-
etry (GC-MS) (Wagner-Döbler et al. 2005), and tandem mass
spectrometry (MS/MS) approaches (Van Mooy et al. 2012),
sometimes preceded by microfractionation, which allows better
separation and concentration of the extracted metabolites. In
some cases, the position of double bonds has been determined
by derivatization with dimethyl disulfide (Neumann et al. 2013).
Irrevocable characterization can be achieved by 1D and 2D
nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses.
The experimental approaches to evaluate the functional roles
of quorum sensing are more diverse. Most studies have based
their work on model strains, where key genes involved in
autoinducer biosynthesis pathways are mutated, in particular
the lux-like genes. Characterization of the growth and pheno-
types of mutant strains elucidates the potential physiological
functions regulated by quorum sensing (Patzelt et al. 2013).
Occurrence in the Phycoshpere There is strong evidence
that quorum sensing occurs in microbial communities that
inhabit the phycosphere. A pioneering study published in
1998 revealed the presence of AHLs in cyanobacterial blooms
(Bachofen and Schenk 1998), which is not surprising since the
high bacterial densities required for quorum sensing occur in
the phycosphere. Since then, many reports have described the
existence of quorum sensing in various phycosphere samples.
These very diverse bacteria were isolated from equally diverse
phytoplankton, indicating that quorum sensing is not restrict-
ed to a particular type of bacteria–algae interaction. This wide
diversity of phytoplankton includes dinoflagellates (isolated
bacteria: Dinoroseobacter shibae, Hoeflea phototrophica,
Roseovarius mucosus), and other picoplankton cultures (iso-
lated bacteria: Sulfitobacter sp., Thalassospira lucentensis)
(Wagner-Döbler et al. 2005). Another study revealed two bac-
terial strains (Pseudomonas sp. and Rhizobium sp.) able to
communicate by quorum sensing in a Botryococcus braunii
associated biofilm (Rivas et al. 2010). These results are in line
with observations of quorum sensing in bacterial communities
attached to sinking particulate organic matter (Gram et al.
2002; Hmelo et al. 2011), in the 0.8–3 μm fraction from fil-
tered seawater (Doberva et al. 2015) and in microbial mats,
J Chem Ecol (2016) 42:1201–1211 1203

which include layers of cyanobacteria or eukaryotic algae against the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum (Skerratt
(Decho et al. 2009; McLean et al. 1997). Interestingly, a few et al. 2002).
reports also have noted the capacity of certain bacterial phy- Some recent publications have also highlighted the role of
toplankton (cyanobacteria) to produce AHLs in their tropodithietic acid (TDA) (12, see Fig. 1) as an autoinducer in
phycosphere (Sharif et al. 2008; Zhai et al. 2012). many Rhodobacterales species (Geng and Belas 2010). This
molecule is produced by different bacterial strains, including
Nature of Molecules Involved in these Chemical the genera Phaeobacter, Silicibacter, and Ruegeria, known to
Interactions Diverse secondary metabolites have been iden- be frequently associated to unicellular algae (Brinkhoff et al.
tified as quorum sensing mediators (Keller and Surette 2006). 2004; Bruhn et al. 2005; Geng et al. 2008; Porsby et al. 2008).
Among them, AHLs (or autoinducer type 1, AI-1), constitute A series of genetic-based experiments have demonstrated that
a widespread class of quorum sensing molecules (Eberhard TDA acts as an autoinducer in Silicibacter sp. TM1040 (Berger
et al. 1981; Lazdunski et al. 2004). These semiochemicals et al. 2011; Geng and Belas 2010), an isolate from the
are amides of fatty acids of variable chain length (C4 to C18) phycosphere of the dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida (Alavi
or their oxygenated derivatives with 3-amino-γ-butyrolactone et al. 2001; Miller and Belas 2006). These approaches demon-
(N-acyl homoserine lactones), and the composition gives the strated that TDA induces the transcription of tda genes, and that
signal its specificity. However, many other types of metabo- the production of TDA is density dependent (Geng and Belas
lites have been identified as involved in quorum sensing in- 2010), two key conditions in recognizing TDA as a quorum
cluding the p-coumaroyl homoserine lactones (Schaefer et al. sensing mediator. Interestingly, TDA production has been
2008), furanosyl diester borate (FDB, autoinducer type 2, shown to be 3.7 to 17.4 times greater in standing compared to
AI-2) (2) (Chen et al. 2002), quinolones (Pesci et al. 1999), shaking cultures, suggesting that it plays a major role in bacte-
peptides (Onaka et al. 1995), and γ-butyrolactones (Onaka rial biofilms (Geng and Belas 2010) (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6).
et al. 1995).
Many different types of AHLs have been identified
from bacteria isolated from the phycosphere. Rivas et al.
Roles of Quorum Sensing in the Phycosphere
(2010) identified short chain AHLs [C4-AHL (3) and C8-
AHL (4)] in Pseudomonas sp. and Rhizobium sp. associ-
Formation of Biofilms Quorum sensing commonly is hy-
ated with the microalga Botryococcus braunii. However,
pothesized to play a role in niche colonization, in particular
it appears that long-chain AHLs (more than 8 carbons in
because it is known to be involved in biofilm formation and
the acyl side chain) tend to dominate in phytoplankton
surface attachment (Davies et al. 1998; Labbate et al. 2007;
associated bacteria. LC-MS analysis revealed that
Nadell et al. 2008). Some studies support the idea that quorum
Dinoroseobacter shibae, isolated from the surface of the
sensing may help bacteria to colonize particles of organic
dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima (Biebl et al. 2005), pro-
matter or the phycosphere in the marine environment (Gram
duces C18:1-AHL (or C18-en-AHL) (5) and C18:2-AHL
et al. 2002; Hmelo et al. 2011). The capacity of Roseobacter to
(or C18-dien-AHL) (6), including one to two double
attach to surfaces has been linked with an ability to commu-
bonds along the acyl chain. In addition, the strain DFL
nicate by quorum sensing (Rao et al. 2006). Similarly, the
18 is reported to produce a C8-AHL (4) (Neumann et al.
emission of AHLs by the cyanobacterium Microcystis corre-
2013; Wagner-Döbler et al. 2005). Roseovarius mucosus
lates with the switch to a biofilm lifestyle (Zhai et al. 2012).
strains, also isolated from dinoflagellate cultures, produce
The same hypothesis has been proposed to interpret the ca-
C18:1 (5) and C14:1 (7) AHLs (Wagner-Döbler et al. 2005).
pacity of Phaeobacter (isolated from a dinoflagellate culture)
Vibrio strains isolated from Trichodesmium colonies produce
to produce TDA as an autoinducer, as the expression of tda
3-oxo-C8-AHL (8), while the Erythrobacter strains obtained
genes coincides with biofilm-formation (Geng and Belas
in the same experiment produce C14-AHL (Van Mooy et al.
2012). The AHLs produced by a few cyanobacterial strains also
have been characterized. Microcystis aeruginosa is probably
able to produce AHLs (Zhai et al. 2012) (9), while the
cyanobacterium Gloeothece PCC6909 produces a C8-AHL
(4) (Sharif et al. 2008). The AHLs are still the main quorum
sensing molecules characterized in the bacteria isolated from
the phycosphere, probably because not many studies have
focused on other compounds. xTwo exceptions are the report
of AI-2 producing Vibrios in the epibiont populations of Fig. 1 Chemical structures of the purple pigment violacein, the
Trichodesmium (Van Mooy et al. 2012) and the report of a autoinducer-2 (AI-2), and the autoinducer and antimicrobial
potential role for AI-2 in the control of the algaecide activity tropodithietic acid (TDA).
1204
Fig. 2 Chemical structures of typical N-acyl homoserine lactones
(AHLs)
2010). However, the relationship between biofilm formation
and emission of quorum sensing compounds is more complex.
For example, Silicibacter lacuscaerulensis and Silicibacter
pomeroyi both harbor quorum sensing systems, but do not
present the same traits for surface colonization (Slightom
and Buchan 2009). Other authors have demonstrated that bio-
film formation is not necessary for TDA production in
Phaeobacter inhibens (Prol Garcia et al. 2014). Additionally,
to our knowledge, no study has demonstrated that quorum
sensing facilitates biofilm formation within the phycosphere.
Acquisition of Nutrients The hypothesis that quorum sensing
may favor nutrient acquisition in bacteria has been well sup-
ported from experiments on model strains in niches other than
the phycospshere (Popat et al. 2015; Rosenberg et al. 1977).
For example, it has been shown in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
that the secretion of proteases confers a greater benefit to the
whole population (Darch et al. 2012).
The phycosphere, as initially described, is a source of algal
nutrients available to bacteria in the immediate environment
(Bell and Mitchell 1972). Thus, it is not surprising that one of
the hypothesized functions of quorum sensing in the
phycosphere is that cell coordination favors nutrient acquisition.
Fig. 3 Chemical structures of p-coumaroylhomoserine lactone (14) and
aromatic acids, derived from lignin
J Chem Ecol (2016) 42:1201–1211
Fig. 4 Chemical structures of compounds involved in quorum sensing
stimulation or in quorum quenching
A recent article showed clearly that epibionts of
Trichodesmium use quorum sensing to up-regulate phosphate
acquisition by alkaline phosphatases. AHLs were involved in
this process, while AI-2 lead to a decrease of phosphate uptake
(Van Mooy et al. 2012). Similarly, it has been shown that
Ruegeria pomeroyi overproduces N-(3-oxotetradecanoyl)-L-
homoserine lactone (10) when grown with
dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) as an energy source,
which is metabolized into dimethyl sulfide (DMS) (Johnson
et al. 2016). This AHL production also is consistent with
modifications in the cell metabolome, suggesting that in the
presence of algal DMSP, Roseobacter switches to a coopera-
tive lifestyle (Johnson et al. 2016). Interestingly, it has been
shown that p-coumaric acid (13), a product of algal lignin
degradation released by decaying phytoplankton cells, is also
the precursor of the p-coumaroylhomoserine lactone (14) in-
volved in Rhodopseudomonas palustris quorum sensing
(Schaefer et al. 2008). Thus, the emission of semiochemicals
linked with the release of phytoplanktonic compounds also
may convey information about environmental conditions in
the phycosphere, such as the availability of exogenously sup-
plied substrates (Buchan et al. 2014; Schaefer et al. 2008). In a
similar way, it has been shown in the algae symbiont,
Dinoroseobacter shibae, that quorum sensing controls flagel-
lar biosynthesis (Patzelt et al. 2013), potentially enabling che-
motaxis to microalgae and thus favoring nutrient acquisition.
The large-scale biogeochemical consequences of bacterial
coordination for nutrient acquisition within the phycosphere
remain poorly explored. A few articles have explored this
question by focusing on particulate organic carbon and marine
snow-associated communities, which may provide some
pieces for a relevant conceptual framework. For example,
some AHLs were detected in organic particles collected near
J Chem Ecol (2016) 42:1201–1211 1205

Fig. 5 Synthetic view of quorum sensing processes in the phycopshere of phytoplankton

Vancouver Island (Hmelo et al. 2011). These workers also
reported an enhancement of hydrolytic enzymes activities in
microcosms when adding synthetic AHLs to particulate or-
ganic carbon collected in seawater (Hmelo et al. 2011).
Similarly, alkaline phosphatase activity is enhanced by C10-
AHL (11) in a Pantoea ananatis strain isolated from marine
snow (Jatt et al. 2015). Such results reveal that quorum sens-
ing in particle-attached bacteria may drive oceanic minerali-
zation kinetics. However, more research is needed to better
characterize biogeochemical implications of quorum sensing
expression (and more generally the importance of cell-cell
interactions) in such microenvironments, including the
phycosphere (Moran et al. 2016).
Regulation of Microbial Population Dynamics It is well
established that quorum sensing is involved in the biosynthe-
sis of antimicrobial compounds (Bainton et al. 1992; Wood
and Pierson 1996), and this activity has been documented in
strains directly isolated from the phycosphere or known to be
able to colonize such microenvironments (Bruhn et al. 2005;
Gram et al. 2002; Wagner-Döbler et al. 2005). It has also been
reported that quorum sensing regulates the production of dif-
ferent algaecidal compounds.
Tropodithietic acid (12), reported above as an autoinducer
(Berger et al. 2011; Geng and Belas 2010) inducing its own
synthesis, acts as an antimicrobial molecule (Berger et al.
2011; Bruhn et al. 2005; Geng et al. 2008; Porsby et al.

Fig. 6 Synthetic view of quorum quenching processes in the phycosphere of phytoplankton

1206
2008). Its synthesis is also controlled by quorum sensing
AHLs in many Roseobacter species (Berger et al. 2011; Rao
et al. 2007; Thole et al. 2012). The production of TDA by
Silicibacter may protect dinoflagellates from pathogen attack
(Bruhn et al. 2005; Geng et al. 2008).
Similarly, Phaeobacter gallaeciencis BS107, associated
with Emiliana huxleyi, provides the alga with growth inducers
like auxins during bloom conditions, and produces antibiotics
like TDA that fight algal pathogens (Geng et al. 2008; Greer
et al. 2008; Thiel et al. 2010). In return, Phaeobacter
gallaeciencis benefits from DMSP produced by the algae as
a sulfur source (González et al. 1999; Newton et al. 2010).
Thus, it at first engages in a symbiotic relationship with
Emiliana huxleyi. In contrast, at the end of the phytoplankton
bloom, Phaeobacter gallaeciencis liberates diverse
roseobacticides (troponoids) that act as algaecides. These me-
tabolites are emitted in response to p-coumaric acid (13),
sinapic acid (15), ferulic acid (16), and cinnamic acid (17)
(all lignin precursors) released by decaying Emiliana huxleyi
cells (Seyedsayamdost et al. 2011a, 2011b). At this stage,
Phaeobacter gallaeciencis switches to becoming a parasite
of its host algae (Seyedsayamdost et al. 2011a, 2011b).
Various algaecides have been identified from bacteria that
inhabit the phycosphere, and sometimes a regulation of their
emission by quorum sensing either has been demonstrated or
is highly likely (Nakashima et al. 2006; Paul and Pohnert
2011; Skerratt et al. 2002). For example, the strain Kordia
algicida, although isolated from a red tide composed of the
diatom Skeletonema costatum (Sohn et al. 2004), demonstrat-
ed an algicidal activity against the diatoms Skeletonema
costatum, Thalassiosira weissflogii, Phaeodactylum
tricornutum, but not against Chaetoceros didymus. This algae-
cide activity is mediated by the excretion of proteases, and
experimental data suggest that it is regulated by quorum sens-
ing based on AHLs (Paul and Pohnert 2011). In a similar way,
a potentially AI-2 based regulation of bacterial algaecide ac-
tivity against the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum has
also been suggested (Skerratt et al. 2002).
In a similar way, the recently isolated 2-heptyl-4-quinolone
(18) emitted by Pseudoalteromonas piscicida induces mortal-
ity of the marine coccolithophore Emiliana huxleyi (Harvey
et al. 2016). Compound 18 is also reported as an antibiotic and
as a precursor of the quorum sensing mediator 2-heptyl-3-
hydroxy-4-quinolone and designated the « Pseudomonas
quinolone signal » (PQS) (19). However, interestingly, this
quorum sensing compound is not produced by
Pseudoalteromonas piscicida (Harvey et al. 2016).
Induction of Phenotypic Heterogeneity Another potential
function of quorum sensing in the phycosphere is the preser-
vation of population heterogeneity, which is thought to be a
survival strategy in fluctuating and unpredicted environments.
This result has recently been highlighted in a Dinoroseobacter
J Chem Ecol (2016) 42:1201–1211
shibae strain (Patzelt et al. 2013), isolated from a dinoflagel-
late culture (Biebl et al. 2005). The combination of genetic and
transcriptomic analysis revealed that the lack of AHL produc-
tion deeply affects cell physiology, with 344 genes differen-
tially transcribed. This research revealed that quorum sensing is
implied in many physiological activities, including cell division,
flagellar biosynthesis, sigma factor synthesis, as well as the pro-
duction of T4SS, a protein present in both DNA and protein
secretion systems (Christie et al. 2005). Additionally, the authors
demonstrated the implication of quorum sensing in the induction
of individual morphological heterogeneity within a single popu-
lation of Dinoroseobacter. The luxI mutant led to single ovoid
morphology of Dinoroseobacter cells, while the wild-type phe-
notype, restored with C18-AHL, included ovoid, rod-shaped,
and very elongated cells. The maintenance of such heterogeneity
in a population may convey ecological advantages at the popu-
lation level, for example during phytoplankton blooms where
cell shape dependent processes such as grazing may be more
intense (Patzelt et al. 2013). A population might enhance its
fitness by allowing individual cells to stochastical transition
among multiple phenotypes, thus ensuring that some cells are
always prepared for an unforeseen environmental fluctuation
(Acar et al. 2008). Patzelt et al. (2013) suggested that quorum
sensing induced heterogeneity which ensures at least that a sub-
population of cells maintains a high fitness in a constantly chang-
ing environment such as seasonal planktons bloom.
Microalgal Stimulation of Quorum Sensing Enhancements
of quorum sensing activities have been observed, in particular in
the freshwater alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii. This alga syn-
thesizes a dozen chemical compounds that mimic AHL activity,
and so is able to readily stimulate various types of quorum sens-
ing receptors (Teplitski et al. 2004). Colonies of both
C. reinhardtii and Chlorella spp. were able to enhance the quo-
rum sensing dependent luminescence of Vibrio harveyi (Teplitski
et al. 2004). Some of these compounds, emitted by
Chlamydomonas, have been identified: the vitamin riboflavin
(20) and its derivative lumichrome (21) are able to stimulate
Las R receptors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and thus are the
first eukaryotic quorum sensing agonists (Rajamani et al. 2008).
The ecological function of these metabolites remains to be inves-
tigated, either it appears that algae use these compoundsto regu-
late their associated microbiome (Rajamani et al. 2011). In con-
clusion, these data reveal that microalgae chemically influence
bacterial quorum sensing in the phycosphere.
Quorum Quenching in the Phycosphere
Definition of Quorum Quenching In contrast to quorum
sensing, quorum quenching describes the mechanisms that
inactivate quorum sensing (Dong et al. 2001; Givskov et al.
1996). A few potential functions regulated by quorum
J Chem Ecol (2016) 42:1201–1211
quenching compounds have been characterized so far, includ-
ing the inactivation of pathogens, inactivation of virulence or
of bacterial competitors. These compounds are either secreted
by specific bacteria, or correspond sometimes to
selfmodulation of quorum sensing signals (Romero et al.
2008; Zhang et al. 2002). However, many functional effects
of quorum quenching remain unknown. Quorum quenching
based mechanisms are highly diverse and include, for exam-
ple, oxidative degradation of AHLs (Borchardt et al. 2001)
and enzymatic hydrolysis of AHLs by either lactonases or
acylases (Dong et al. 2007; Romero et al. 2008). The synthesis
of inhibitors or analogs of quorum sensing signals by algae,
invertebrates, plants, and bacteria also have been described as
quorum quenching mechanisms (Gao et al. 2003; Givskov
et al. 1996; Kim et al. 2007).
Occurrence in the Phycosphere of Microalgae Quorum
quenching activities have previously been detected in marine
bacteria (Hmelo and Van Mooy 2009; Hmelo et al. 2011;
Romero et al. 2011; Van Mooy et al. 2012) and in macroalgae
(Rasmussen et al. 2000). The presence of quorum quenching
semiochemicals in the phycosphere has also been verified.
C h l o r e l l a s a c c h a r o p h i l a , C h l o re l l a v u l g a r i s ,
Nannochloropsis sp., Isochrysis sp., Tetraselmis suecica, and
Tetraselmis striata were identified as quorum quenching com-
pounds producers, inhibiting color and fluorescence produced
by the AHL-based reporting strains Chromobacterium
violaceum and Escherichia coli JB523 (Natrah et al. 2011).
Interestingly, it also has been shown that C. saccharophila,
Nannochloris atomus, and Nannochloropsis oculata inhibit
the AHL based quorum sensing reporter strain Vibrio harveyi
JMH612, revealing that biosensors detect different types of
algae quorum quenching activities. However, the compounds
responsible for the observed quorum quenching effect are still
unknown. Similarly, a novel acylase was identified in
Anabaena sp. PCC7120, and homologous sequences of this
enzyme also were detected in the filamentous cyanobacteria
Nostoc punctiforme, Gloeobacter violaceus, and
Synechocystis sp. (Romero et al. 2008). Halogenation of the
acyl chains in AHLs also can inhibit quorum sensing.
Interestingly, sequences encoding potential halogenases were
found in public databases containing the genome of the dia-
tom Fragilariopsis cylindrus (Amin et al. 2012).
Control of Pathogenic Bacteria Virulence Quorum sensing
controls many genes involved in virulence. Thus, inhibition of
quorum sensing can help to limit bacterial induced diseases. In
light of increasing concern over widespread antibiotic resis-
tance, an understanding of other strategies to limit bacterial
growth and virulence is invaluable. From this point of view,
quorum quenching semiochemicals appear highly promising
for biotechnological purposes (Singh 2015), in particular to
fight bacterial diseases in aquaculture (Defoirdt et al. 2011).
1207
For example, microalgae producing quorum quenching me-
tabolites have the potential in aquaculture to protect against
aquatic pathogens (Natrah et al. 2011). A few studies have
shown that marine cyanobacteria show quorum quenching
activity against Vibrio spp., one of the most important pathogens
in aquaculture, but also against other pathogens including
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Dobretsov et al. 2010; Kwan et al.
2011). Cyanobacteria of the genus Lyngbya appear to be partic-
ularly active emitters of quorum quenching compounds that in-
clude amides, peptides, and lipids (Dobretsov et al. 2011; Meyer
et al. 2016). Similarly, Leptolyngbya crossbyana produces (S)-
3-(4-chlorocrotonyloxy)-γ-butyrolactone called honaucin A (22)
and the ethyl- and methyl esters of the corresponding acyclic (S)-
3-hydroxy-4-(4-chlorocrotonyloxy)butanoic acid, termed
honaucin B and C, respectively (23 and 24). The compounds
inhibit quorum sensing-dependent bioluminescence of Vibrio
harveyi BB120 (Choi et al. 2012). Similar quorum quenching
activity by the microalga Picochlorum sp. S1b against Vibrio
also is suspected (Kuo et al. 2014). The cyanobacterium
Blennothrix cantharidosmum produces tumonoic acids, which
moderately inhibit bioluminescence of a wild strain of Vibrio
harveyi without affecting its growth (Harrigan et al. 1999).
According to results of these biotests, tumonoic acid F (25)
appears to be the most active one.
Controversies
The role of quorum sensing in microbiomes remains controver-
sial (Cornforth et al. 2014; Platt and Fuqua 2010; West et al.
2012), and its function in the phycosphere is still a large and
open field (Bachofen and Schenk 1998; Decho et al. 2009;
Hmelo et al. 2011). Clearly, AHLs carry information and act
as semiochemicals (Dicke and Sabelis 1988) however, addi-
tional functions of these compounds also have been described,
including antimicrobial activity and iron chelation (Kaufmann
et al. 2005; Schertzer et al. 2009). This also is the case for TDA,
which was first known in Rhodobacterales as an antibacterial
agent (Brinkhoff et al. 2004) before being described as a quo-
rum sensing autoinducer (Geng and Belas 2010). Thus, quorum
sensing molecules display versatility and play different roles,
depending on both the emitting and targeted cells.
Another source of controversy is whether sensing
autoinducer concentrations actually functions to detect the
mass transfer in the environment (Bdiffusion-sensing^) rather
than the local density of other bacteria (Bpure^ quorum sens-
ing) (Redfield 2002). The concept of Befficiency-sensing^
unifies diffusion-sensing and quorum sensing as specific cases
within a more general framework whereby autoinducer sens-
ing allows bacteria to infer mass transfer, cell density, and
spatial distribution of other cells (Hense et al. 2007). This
concept of efficiency-sensing could aid in the interpretation
of signaling events observed in the complexity of the
1208
phycosphere, where the environment is structured on a micro-
scale by physical barriers (cells are embedded in a complex
matrix of polymers), subject to fluid motions (Amin et al.
2012), and variable spatial clustering of bacteria and cell
abundance (Doucette 1995). In contrast, the Bpure^ quorum
sensing framework arose from well-controlled laboratory
studies on clonal populations (Hense et al. 2007).
Conclusions and Perspectives
The objective of this review was to shed light on quorum
sensing communication in the phycosphere of microalgae.
Many reports have revealed the presence of this communica-
tion system in bacteria isolated from phytoplankton blooms or
associated with microalgae cultures. It appears from the liter-
ature that quorum sensing is a common type of bacterial com-
munication in the phycosphere. It is performed by diverse
bacteria within the phycosphere of a large diversity of
microalgae. The metabolites involved seem dominated by
long-chain AHLs, however, some reports mention the poten-
tial importance of AI-2. The emerging picture urgently needs
further research to evaluate the extent of bacterial and chem-
ical diversity involved in quorum sensing processes within the
phycosphere. Little is known about the potential involvement
of diverse types of AHLs and other quorum sensing semio-
chemicals, including γ-butyrolactones, quinolones, and
others.
Very diverse functions have been identified in the
phycopshere involving quorum sensing, which include bio-
film formation and nutrient acquisition as well as the regula-
tion of algaecide production, antibiotic synthesis, and cell
shape. Probably, this list remains far from the real extent of
biological functions governed by quorum sensing within the
phycopshere. Recent advances that couple genomics with
metabolomics approaches will give interesting new insights
in this field of research (Kusari et al. 2012; Scherlach and
Hertweck 2009). A promising experimental approach to an-
swer these questions is the simultaneous tracking of
transcriptomic and metabolomic variations within model or-
ganisms grown in co-culture (Wang et al. 2014). This method
enables the characterization of metabolic pathways affected
by quorum sensing expression in both algae and bacteria.
Furthermore, the great number of effects and impacts of quo-
rum sensing in the phycosphere remains poorly characterized,
particularly in terms of biogeochemistry and evolution.
This review also has described the importance that quorum
quenching has in the phycosphere of microalgae. Many stud-
ies have revealed the emission of quorum quenching mole-
cules either by algae or diverse bacteria in the phycospshere.
These compounds represent an important biotechnological
potential, as they are able to control growth and virulence of
microorganisms. Again, more research is needed to identify
J Chem Ecol (2016) 42:1201–1211
new semiochemicals with such activities and to better charac-
terize their mechanisms of action.
Acknowledgments We thank the CNRS for funding this research
(grant EC2CO-ROSEOCOM) and Sheree Yau for her help in English
grammar and spelling.
Compliance with Ethical Standards The authors declare no conflict
of interest.
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