the exchange of signalling molecules between single celled organisms was unexpected and therefore nobody was looking for them; it is thus not surprising when microbiologists isolating cells out of a culture medium in which they grew them in the first place dumped the signalling processes along with the initial medium thereby causing some bacteria transferred to fresh media to loose their pathogenicity in the experimental setting;
p.8-9; in ....
Bruni L.E.; 2002; Does "quorum sensing" imply a new type of biological information?; Sign System Studies 30.1: 1-22;