Knut Drescher

Cell-Cell interactions

How do cells interact with each other? What benefits do cells derive from interacting with each other? I am interested in answering these basic science questions by working on microbial model systems, using experiments and theory.

Physical interaction mechanisms have been largely neglected in the past, and were the focus of my doctoral research. In fact, many collective behaviours of swimming microorganisms that appear highly coordinated are due to purely physical interactions.

To complement my doctoral studies, I am currently working on chemical signaling between bacteria – a process known as quorum sensing. This cell-cell interaction mechanism is widely spread among bacteria, and coordinates group behaviours by regulating gene expression. Social behaviours such as costly communication via excreted messenger molecules are however susceptible to exploitation and/or manipulation by cells that don’t produce or even metabolize the messenger molecules.