Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) is the causal agent of citrus canker, a disease that affects almost all types of citrus crops. Production of particular Xcc pathogenicity factors is controlled by a gene cluster rpf, which encodes elements of a cell-cell communication system called quorum sensing (QS), mediated by molecules of the diffusible signal factor (DSF) family. Interference with cell-cell signalling, also termed quorum quenching, either by signal degradation or over-production, has been suggested as a strategy to control bacterial disease. In this study, three bacterial strains were isolated from citrus leaves that displayed the ability to disrupt QS signalling in Xcc. Pathogenicity assays in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) showed that bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus also have a strong ability to reduce the severity of citrus canker disease. These effects were associated with alteration in bacterial attachment and biofilm formation, factors that are known to contribute to Xcc virulence. These quorum-quenching bacteria may represent a highly valuable tool in the process of biological control and offer an alternative to the traditional copper treatment currently used to treat citrus canker disease.

The bacterium Pseudomonas entomophila has been recognized as an exceptional species within the Pseudomonas genus, capable of naturally infecting and killing insects from at least three different orders. P. entomophila ingestion leads to irreversible gut damage resulting from a global blockage of translation, which impairs both immune and tissue repair systems in the insect intestine. In this study we isolated a P. entomophila bacterial strain from soil samples which displayed a strong activity against Xanthomonas citri subsp, citri (Xcc), the etiological agent of citrus canker disease. The antagonism potential of isolated bacteria against Xcc and its ability to reduce citrus canker severity was assessed both ex planta and in planta. Our findings show that pathogenicity assays in Citrus x limonia by pressure infiltration and spray with a mixture of P. entomophila and Xcc leaded to a significant reduction in the number of canker lesions in high susceptible citrus leaves, at 21 days post-infection. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of antibacterial activity of P. entomophila against a phytopathogenic bacterium. Collective action of P. entomophila factors such as diketopiperazine production and the type 6 secretion system (T6SS) may be involved in this type of biological control of citrus canker. The results suggest that the P. entomophila strain could be a promising biocontrol agent acting directly against Xcc.

Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) is the etiological agent of citrus canker, a disease that affects almost all types of citrus crops. Production of Xcc virulence factors is controlled by a gene cluster rpf, which encodes elements of a cell-cell communication system called quorum sensing (QS). Perturbation of cell-cell signaling systems either by signal degradation or by overproduction significantly reduces symptoms and thereby the severity of the disease. Pathogenicity assays in Citrus sinensis showed that some bacterial species natural inhabitants of citrus phyllosphera have the strong ability to disturb QS system mediated by diffusible signal factor (DSF) molecule in Xcc and to reduce disease severity. The lessening of symptoms was associated with alteration in bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. These factors are known to contribute to Xcc virulence in the early stages of disease. The aim of this chapter is to review QS system in Xcc, the virulence factors affected by QS disturbing, as well as the main secretion systems that participate actively in virulence and its effect on the symptomatology of citrus canker.

Metal solubilization from discarded electrical material and electronic devices (e-waste) using the bioleaching capabilities of bacterial cells is highly effective. However, gaps in understanding about the microbiological processes involved in the bioleaching reaction leads to less efficient metal solubilization in large-scale e-waste processing. In this study, bacterial species belonging to the genera Acidithiobacillus and Pseudomonas were used to leach copper and gold from discarded printed circuit boards (PCB). Through modulation of the cell-to-cell communication system in these bacteria, phenotypic traits directly involved in the bioleaching reaction were regulated in order to improve the metal solubilization. Addition of the long chain synthetic autoinducer molecule N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) of the quorum sensing pathway to the bioleaching reaction resulted in a significant enhancement of metal extraction from PCB. Factors such as: cell attachment to PCB, biofilm formation and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production were regulated by the quorum sensing system and could be directly related to the improvement of metal bioleaching. Bioleaching reactions using bacterial quorum sensing modulation could represent a valuable tool in overcoming limitations at the industrial level imposed by microbiological traits that lead to inefficient metal bioleaching from e-waste.

Cell-to-cell communication system quorum sensing (QS) denotes the ability of bacteria to track the population density, in order to coordinate its phenotypic traits to successfully establish and thrive in new ecological niches. Different citrus phytopathogenic bacteria such as: Xanthomonas citri spp. citri, Xillela fastidiosa and Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae regulate several pathogenicity factors through well-established quorum sensing DSF (Diffusible Signal Factor) and AHL (AcylHomoserine Lactone) pathways. The goal of this chapter is to review exophytic and endophytic bacteria able to disrupt quorum sensing communication system in these bacteria in order to reduce the symptomatology of citrus canker, citrus variegated chlorosis and citrus blast. The quorum quenching of phytopathogen bacteria could afford new tools for disease control, thus reducing the overuse of antimicrobial drug and decrease its environmental accumulation, thus relieving the selection pressure of resistant bacterial populations.