Quorum sensing: a new clinical target for Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacteria causing a wide variety of infections. The bacterial virulence depends on a large panel of cell-associated and extracellular factors. Quorum sensing (QS) allows cell-to-cell communication: sensing the environment, this system coordinates the expression of various genes within the bacterial population. QS is based on an interaction between a small diffusible molecule, an acylhomoserine lactone (AHL), and a transcriptionnal activator. Two QS systems, the las and rhl systems, have been identified in P. aeruginosa. The las system associates the transcriptionnal activator protein LasR and LasI responsible for the synthesis of a specific AHL: C12-HSL. This system was shown to activate the expression of a large number of virulence factors. Similarly, the rhl system associates the transcriptionnal activator protein RhlR with RhlI, which is responsible for the synthesis of another AHL: C4-HSL. Synthesis and secretion of a number of virulence factors are controlled by QS. Utilization of different animals models showed the crucial role of QS in the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa infections. The discovery of QS has given a new opportunity to treat bacterial infection by another means than g...Continue Reading
References
Active efflux and diffusion are involved in transport of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cell-to-cell signals
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Apoptosis
Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis
Acute Hemorrhagic Leukoencephalitis
Acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis is a rare form of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis characterized by acute inflammation in the brain and spinal cord that causes demyelination and bleeding. It is often fatal, although treatment with immunosuppressives and plasma exchange can be helpful. Find the latest research on acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis here.
Biofilm & Infectious Disease
Biofilm formation is a key virulence factor for a wide range of microorganisms that cause chronic infections.Here is the latest research on biofilm and infectious diseases.