Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41340071›Full record

ArticleMicrobiome2025

Diverse quorum sensing systems regulate microbial communication and biogeochemical processes in deep-sea cold seeps.

Jiaxue Peng, Xinyue Liu, Jieni Wang, Nan Meng, Runlin Cai, Yongyi Peng, Yingchun Han, Jing Liao, Chengcheng Li, Maxim Rubin-Blum and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Microbiome, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Frontiers in microbiology · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Jiaxue Peng *Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
Xinyue Liu *Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
Jieni WangKey Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
Nan MengCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, China.
Runlin CaiGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biology, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China.
Yongyi PengKey Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
Yingchun HanKey Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
Jing LiaoKey Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China.
Chengcheng LiQingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, China.
Maxim Rubin-BlumIsrael Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, 3108000, Israel.
Qiao MaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, 116026, China. xiaoma0556@dlmu.edu.cn.
Xiyang DongKey Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China. dongxiyang@tio.org.cn.

Funding

Israel Science Foundation 1359/23National Natural Science Foundation of China 32170121National Natural Science Foundation of China 92351304Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province 2023J06042Natural Science Foundation Project of Xiamen City 3502Z202373076Scientific Research Foundation of Third Institute of Oceanography, MNR 2022025
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundQuorum sensing is a fundamental chemical communication mechanism that enables microorganisms to coordinate behavior and adapt to environmental conditions. However, its contribution in deep-sea cold seep ecosystems, where diverse microbial communities and frequent communication occur, remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the occurrence and potential ecological roles of quorum sensing in cold seeps.

resultsWe analyzed 170 metagenomes and 33 metatranscriptomes from 17 global cold seep sites, identifying 299,355 quorum sensing genes from the cold seep non-redundant gene catalog. These genes represent 34 types across six quorum sensing systems, with distribution patterns influenced by sediment depth and seep type. A total of 32,500 quorum sensing genes were identified in 3576 metagenome-assembled genomes from 12 archaeal and 108 bacterial phyla, revealing a complex network of intraspecies and interspecies communication. Microbial groups involved in key metabolic processes, such as sulfate-reducing bacteria, anaerobic methanotrophic archaea, diazotrophs, and organohalide reducers, were extensively regulated by quorum sensing, influencing biogeochemical cycles in cold seeps. Phylogenetic analysis and protein domain identification highlighted the involvement of key quorum sensing-related proteins (e.g., PDE, RpfC/G, CahR, and LuxR) in modulating microbial behaviors, such as motility and chemotaxis. Heterologous expression further confirmed the activity of representative LuxI-R pairs, and metabolomic profiling suggested the presence of putative quorum sensing inhibitors in cold seep sediments.

conclusionsOverall, these findings highlight the complexity and significance of quorum sensing in microbial interactions, ecological adaptation, and biogeochemical cycling within cold seep ecosystems, advancing our understanding of microbial communication in the deep biosphere. Video Abstract.

Indexed as

ArchaeaBacteriaMicrobiotaQuorum SensingSeawaterEcosystemGeologic SedimentsMetagenomePhylogeny

Identifiers

PMID41340071
PMCPMC12781772

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.