Disruption of bacterial quorum sensing by other organisms

Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2002 Jun;13(3):234-7. doi: 10.1016/s0958-1669(02)00310-5.

Abstract

Higher plants and algae produce compounds that mimic quorum sensing: signals used by bacteria to regulate the expression of many genes and behaviors. Similarly, various bacteria can stimulate, inhibit or inactivate quorum sensing in other bacteria. These discoveries offer new opportunities to manipulate bacterial quorum sensing in applications relevant to medicine, agriculture and the environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • 4-Butyrolactone / analogs & derivatives*
  • 4-Butyrolactone / metabolism
  • Bacterial Physiological Phenomena
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology
  • Biofilms
  • Cell Communication*
  • Eukaryota / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Genes, Bacterial / genetics
  • Genes, Bacterial / physiology
  • Genetic Variation
  • Molecular Mimicry*
  • Plants / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • homoserine lactone
  • 4-Butyrolactone