Anti-Quorum Sensing Compounds from Rare Actinobacteria

Abstract

Actinobacteria have exceptional metabolic diversity and are a rich source of several useful bioactive natural products. Most of these have been derived from Streptomyces, the dominant genus of Actinobacteria. Hence, it is necessary to explore rare actinobacteria for the production of novel bioactive compounds. Amongst the novel metabolites, anti-quorum-sensing agents, which can curb infection without killing pathogens, are gaining importance. Not many studies are targeting anti-quorum-sensing agents from rare actinobacteria and this research area is still in its infancy. This field may lead to novel bioactive compounds that can act against bacterial quorum-sensing systems. These agents can attenuate the virulence of the pathogens without challenging their growth, thereby preventing the emergence of resistant strains and facilitating the elimination of pathogens by the host’s immune system. Therefore, this chapter describes the general characteristics and habitats of rare actinobacteria, isolation and cultivation methods, the methods of screening rare actinobacteria for anti-quorum sensing compounds, methods of evaluation of their properties, and future prospects in drug discovery.