Quorum Sensing of Lactic Acid Bacteria: Progress and Insights

The presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as probiotics in the harsh intestinal environment is usually transient. In recent years, quorum-sensing (QS), a signalling molecule-based form of bacterial communication, has attracted increasing attention due to its vital role in regulating LAB properties that support colonisation, such as acid resistance, adhesion, and biofilm formation. QS is also widely involved in the autolysis of and bacteriocin production by LAB, processes that are essential for the application of these species as probiotics or industrial starter cultures. Base on introducing LAB’s QS systems, this review discusses the factors that may affect QS, the effect of QS on the LAB’s intestinal colonisation, and the possible interactions mediated by QS between probiotics and the gut microbiome.