Role of quorum sensing in bacterial infections

Abstract

Quorum sensing (QS) is cell communication that is widely used by bacterial pathogens to coordinate the expression of several collective traits, including the production of multiple virulence factors, biofilm formation, and swarming motility once a population threshold is reached. Several lines of evidence indicate that QS enhances virulence of bacterial pathogens in animal models as well as in human infections; however, its relative importance for bacterial pathogenesis is still incomplete. In this review, we discuss the present evidence from in vitro and in vivo experiments in animal models, as well as from clinical studies, that link QS systems with human infections. We focus on two major QS bacterial models, the opportunistic Gram negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus, which are also two of the main agents responsible of nosocomial and wound infections. In addition, QS communication systems in other bacterial, eukaryotic pathogens, and even immune and cancer cells are also reviewed, and finally, the new approaches proposed to combat bacterial infections by the attenuation of their QS communication systems and virulence are also discussed.

FVB/N Mice Spontaneously Heal Ulcerative Lesions Induced by Mycobacterium ulcerans and Switch M. ulcerans into a Low Mycolactone Producer

“…In our context, two hypotheses could be then issued: 1) the signal is recognized by each bacteria individually, changing their lipid metabolism tightly in relationship with toxin production (50); and 2) the environment established by the host disturbs/modifies the bacterial quorum sensing. Consequently, the bacterial community coordinately modified its metabolism and some gene expression, including for virulence factors, as described for various microorganisms (51)(52)(53)(54)(55).…”

Antibiofilm activity of natural substances derived from plants

“…Several screenings have shown that natural products, particularly phytochemicals, are an interesting source of quorum sense inhibitor (QSI) (Castillo-Juárez et al, 2015). They have been recognized as a large and attractive repository of QSI, offering a vast chemical diversity with structural complexity and biological activity (Borges et al, 2015).…”

When being Alone is Enough: Noncanonical Functions of Canonical Bacterial Quorum-Sensing Systems

“…P. aeruginosa infections can lead to skin complications but this bacterium is more notorious for being associated with the lung disease known as cystic fibrosis [76,77]. In order to establish a disease, P. aeruginosa contains canonical QS systems to control the expression of a plethora of virulence factors [1,4,78]. This bacterium contains three QS systems, with the main one being LasI/LasR, which is a homologue of the LuxI/LuxR system described in the Vibrio species.…”