Summary A LuxI/R‐like quorum sensing (QS) system (AfeI/R) has been reported in the acidophilic and chemoautotrophic Acidithiobacillus spp. However, the function of AfeI/R remains unclear because of the difficulties in the genetic manipulation of these bacteria. Here, we constructed different afeI mutants of the sulfur‐ and iron‐oxidizer A . ferrooxidans , identified the N‐acyl homoserine lactones (acyl‐HSLs) synthesized by Afe...

Aerial exposure (emersion) due to the periodical ebb and flow of tides is a major stressor for intertidal organisms and a key environmental factor in shaping their local communities. Oysters are among the most emersion-tolerant mollusk species and can survive for several days under aerial exposure. Noticeably, overwhelming inflammation responses could occur during the emersion stress. However, mechanisms beneath the activation...