FIGURE 1: Some hypothetical scenarios in quorum protection.

Top panel: depicts high cell density with cells being protected by 2 quorum protection molecules. Cells survive.

Middle panel: depicts a cell with a low concentration of quorum protection molecules such that the threshold for survival is not reached. The cell dies.

Bottom panel: depicts a high density cell population that is mixed. Each cell produces specific molecules to protect their own species, but each can bind non-specific molecules. The low density of specific quorum protection molecules does not meet the threshold required for survival.