Abstract
Quorum sensing is a type of chemical communication by which bacterial populations control expression of their genes in a coordinated manner. This regulatory mechanism is commonly used by pathogens to control the expression of genes encoding virulence factors and that of genes involved in the bacterial adaptation to variations in environmental conditions. In phytopathogenic bacteria, several mechanisms of quorum sensing have been characterized. In this review, we describe the different quorum sensing systems present in phytopathogenic bacteria, such as those using the signal molecules named N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL), diffusible signal factor (DSF), and the unknown signal molecule of the virulence factor modulating (VFM) system. We focus on studies performed on phytopathogenic bacteria of major importance, including Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, Agrobacterium, Xanthomonas, Erwinia, Xylella, Dickeya, and Pectobacterium spp. For each system, we present the mechanism of regulation, the functions targeted by the quorum sensing system, and the mechanisms by which quorum sensing is regulated.
Highlights
Quorum sensing is a type of chemical communication by which bacterial populations control expression of their genes in a coordinated manner
We present Quorum sensing (QS) systems harbored by phytopathogenic bacteria, i.e., the ones relying on acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) or diffusible signal factors (DSF), in addition to the virulence factor modulating (VFM) system
Quorum sensing, which synchronizes the bacterial response within a population, is widespread among bacteria
Summary
Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication mechanism used by bacteria for promoting collective behavior within a population. Aliivibrio fischneri, these signal molecules were later characterized in a plethora of bacteria including Pectobacterium carotovorum (formerly named Erwinia), Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Citrobacter amalonaticus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa [3,4]. We present QS systems harbored by phytopathogenic bacteria, i.e., the ones relying on AHL or diffusible signal factors (DSF), in addition to the virulence factor modulating (VFM) system. For each of these systems, we present the regulatory mechanism, the target genes of QS, and the mechanisms that are involved in the QS process.
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