Perception of a bacterial quorum sensing signal activates a tripartite plant immune strategy

D Danxia He (School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University) Y Yang Zhou M Meng Li M Miao Wang W Wenjia Yu (Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) C Chuyang Shao (Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) S Sunil Kumar Singh (Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) M Meijiao Gu (Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) Y Yuhua Wang J Jianlong Yuan X Xiaoxuan Wu (Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) S Shuai Zheng Y Yi Xie L Lixian Chen (Medical Laboratory Center, Xiamen Humanity Hospital, Fujian Medical University) R Rafael J. L. Morcillo (Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) Y Yu Yang J Juan Ignacio Vílchez (Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences) J Jin-Lin Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University) Y Yansong Miao (School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University) A Alberto P. Macho H Huiming Zhang (Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) signals an increasing threat during pathogenesis. How plants deploy timely defenses through QS perception is poorly understood. Here, we report that Arabidopsis thaliana perceives 2’-aminoacetophenone (2’-AA), a volatile QS signal from Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and mounts a multilayered defense. This response comprises BRI1-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (BAK1)-dependent intracellular immunity, extracellular quorum quenching through the release of acetic acid, and ecological remodeling of the root microbiome to suppress Pseudomonas . Our findings demonstrate that plants can translate the detection of a specific bacterial QS molecule into a coordinated, preemptive disease resistance strategy.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 18
Published May 05, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (21)

D

Danxia He

School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University

Y

Yang Zhou

M

Meng Li

M

Miao Wang

W

Wenjia Yu

Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

C

Chuyang Shao

Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

S

Sunil Kumar Singh

Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

M

Meijiao Gu

Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Y

Yuhua Wang

J

Jianlong Yuan

X

Xiaoxuan Wu

Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

S

Shuai Zheng

Y

Yi Xie

L

Lixian Chen

Medical Laboratory Center, Xiamen Humanity Hospital, Fujian Medical University

R

Rafael J. L. Morcillo

Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Y

Yu Yang

J

Juan Ignacio Vílchez

Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

J

Jin-Lin Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University

Y

Yansong Miao

School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University

A

Alberto P. Macho

H

Huiming Zhang

Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences