still considered as references in quorum sensing studies. As the quorum sensing research
proceeds swiftly, a number of new approaches for quorum sensing investigations have been
published in the last years; hence new methods and protocols have been included in this
collection in the attempt to provide a comprehensive coverage of the methodology available
in the field.
Special thanks also go to our dear friends and brilliant scientists Vittorio Venturi, for
introducing us into the quorum sensing world, and Roman Popat, for providing the initial
inspiration in editing this book.
Equally, we thank the Series Editor John M. Walker for the encouraging support along
this editorial adventure.
Last but not least, thanks to all the experts who decided to share the precious protocols
developed in their laboratories with the quorum sensing scientific community, and who
kindly contributed their time and expertise for realizing this book.
Special thoughts go to our dear colleague Burkhard Hense, who passed away while this
book was in preparation. This book is dedicated to him.
Rome, Italy Livia Leoni, Ph.D.
Giordano Rampioni, Ph.D.
References
1.Tomasz A (1965) Control of the competent state inPneumococcusby a hormone-like cell product: an
example for a new type of regulatory mechanism in bacteria. Nature 208:155–
2.Nealson KH, Platt T, Hastings JW (1970) Cellular control of the synthesis and activity of the bacterial
luminescent system. J Bacteriol 104:313–
3.Eberhard A, Burlingame AL, Eberhard C, Kenyon GL, Nealson KH, Oppenheimer NJ (1981) Struc-
tural identification of autoinducer ofPhotobacterium fischeriluciferase. Biochemistry 20:2444–
4.Fuqua WC, Winans SC, Greenberg EP (1994) Quorum sensing in bacteria: the LuxR-LuxI family of
cell density-responsive transcriptional regulators. J Bacteriol 176:269–
5.Rumbaugh KP (ed) (2010) Quorum sensing - methods and protocols. Springer, New York
viii Preface