Bacterial aerotaxis: receptor diversity, signal transduction and ecological functions

Aerotaxis, the oxygen-directed motile behavior intrinsically linked to bacterial energy metabolism, serves as a fundamental survival and adaptive strategy for motile prokaryotes, including bacteria and archaea. This behavior enables these microorganisms to navigate along oxygen gradients and colonize metabolically optimal ecological niches. This review systematically synthesizes the latest research advancements in bacterial aerotaxis, focusing on the diverse signal-sensing mechanisms of aerotaxis receptors, which are primarily categorized into energy-dependent and direct oxygen-sensing types. Furthermore, we elucidate the distinct molecular mechanisms that underlie their oxygen signal perception and transduction. We also discuss the two major adaptive regulatory mechanisms of aerotaxis and its critical ecological functions in mediating microbe-host interactions, facilitating host colonization, and modulating biofilm formation. This work clarifies the evolutionary and ecological significance of aerotaxis in prokaryotic environmental adaptation and provides a comprehensive theoretical framework for future relevant research.