Paradigm shift: Bacterial quorum sensing and possible control targets

Abstract

QS Designates a cell-to-cell communication process that enables bacteria to collectively modify their behaviour in response to changes in the cell density and species composition of the surrounding microbial community. These processes involve the production, release and group-wide detection of extracellular signalling molecules, which are generically called Autoinducers (AIs). It controls various genes which are responsible for various phenotypes like bioluminescence, the secretion of virulence factors, and the formation of biofilms in bacteria. Quorum quenching inhibits QS and the substances that inhibit it are called quorum sensing inhibitors. Several chemical compounds and enzymes mediate inhibition of QS, such as, lactonases, acylases and oxidoreductases. Other than these, there are some non-enzymatic methods for quorum quenching and also some plant phytochemicals have been found to inhibit it. Blocking of QS by QS Inhibition (QSI) may play an important role to disrupt biofilm formation in a device associated infection and chronic drug resistant infection. More researches are required in this area related with QS and QSI. However, some chemicals have been found to be mimicking the quorum sensing AIs activities like serotonin and rosmaric acid.