Bacteria can ‘talk’ and are multilingual, says biologist exploring microbial language

Microbes That Speak: Biologist Reveals Bacteria Communicate in Chemical Languages (Image: Canva)

Bonnie Bassler, a molecular biologist at Princeton University, spoke about bacterial communication during a lecture on the International Day for Women and Girls in Science. She explained how microbes use quorum sensing to coordinate behaviour, influencing both disease and beneficial partnerships. Bassler highlighted the medical potential of anti quorum sensing therapies as alternatives to antibiotics, citing examples such as Vibrio cholerae and the bioluminescent Vibrio fischeri. She stressed the importance of basic research in unlocking future medical advances.

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Bacteria can cause disease yet sustain life, said leading molecular biologist Bonnie Bassler during a public lecture on microbial communication and its medical promise, delivered on the International Day for Women and Girls in Science on 11 February 2026. She described microbes as powerful unseen partners. She urged deeper study of their language.

Bonnie Bassler on bacterial communication

Bonnie Bassler is a professor at Princeton University. She is known for studying bacterial signalling. She calls them magical microbes with promise. Her lecture explored their chemical conversations. The talk was titled A chemical language that enables communication between diverse organisms. It was organised by TNQ foundation. TNQ supports basic research in India.

She explained bacteria communicate through quorum sensing. This process lets microbes measure population size. They release and detect chemical signals. When numbers rise, behaviours change collectively. Such coordination can trigger disease processes. It can also support beneficial partnerships.

Quorum sensing and medical promise

Bassler said new therapies may emerge. Anti quorum sensing drugs could replace antibiotics. These treatments would block bacterial conversations. Instead of killing microbes, signals are silenced. She said this may reduce resistance risks. Several notorious bacterial characters were mentioned. She cited the deadly Vibrio cholerae as example.

She contrasted it with Vibrio fischeri. This species glows bright blue naturally. It lives symbiotically with Hawaiian squid. The squid hunts in shallow waters. It moves beneath bright moonlit skies. Predators track prey by visible shadows. The bacteria glow beneath the squid. This light removes the animal’s shadow. The partnership shows cooperation in nature.

Microbes, immunity and future research

Bassler said microbes colonise humans early. They help train the immune system. Harmful bacteria are kept in check. Beneficial species are allowed to thrive. She admitted mechanisms remain unclear. Yet microbes appear to guide immunity.

She stressed discovery requires basic science. Applications follow understanding fundamental life processes. Without research, innovation cannot advance. Bassler expressed delight at the occasion. She welcomed speaking on women in science.

She received the Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 2022. She also won the Canada Gairdner Award in 2023. Her message was clear and urgent. Bacteria harm us yet sustain us. Understanding their language may reshape medicine.