Languages and dialects: bacterial communication beyond homoserine lactones

Gram-negative bacteria use N-acyl homoserine lactones (acyl-HSLs) for communication, predominantly mediated by LuxR-type receptors. Recent studies uncovered aryl-HSLs, alpha-pyrones and dialkylresorcinols as further chemical languages of Gram-negative bacteria. These findings extend the number of bacterial signaling molecules and suggest that cell-cell communication goes far beyond acyl-HSL signaling in nature.