On Friday 17 October, Clare Hall was very pleased to welcome Professor Bonnie Bassler as the speaker for the 2025-26 King Lecture. Professor Bassler, Squibb Professor of Molecular Biology at Princeton University and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, delivered a fascinating talk that drew great interest from members and guests alike.

The talk titled ‘Tiny Conspiracies: How Bacteria Talk to Each Other’ offered remarkable insights into the hidden world of bacterial communication and cooperation.

Bacteria are tiny, ancient organisms that play both harmful and beneficial roles in the living world. Some are capable of causing disease in humans, animals, and plants, while others are essential for keeping them alive. How do such small creatures carry out such big jobs?

The answer lies in their ability to work together. Bacteria communicate, count their numbers, and act collectively. They “talk” to one another using chemical molecules that they release into their surroundings. These molecules travel from cell to cell, and when they build up to a certain level, the bacteria detect them through receptors on their surfaces. This process, known as quorum sensing, allows bacteria to coordinate their behaviour on a population-wide scale. Through quorum sensing, bacteria can synchronise activities that would be ineffective for an individual cell acting alone but become powerful when performed by the group. These include virulence, biofilm formation, and the exchange of DNA.

The talk explored how quorum sensing enables bacteria to function as organised communities capable of complex behaviour. It also highlighted current biomedical research focused on developing therapies that interfere with bacterial communication. Such approaches could offer new ways to combat pathogenic bacteria of global importance.

The event concluded with a Q&A session, followed by animated conversation over dinner at Clare Hall.