Quenching the quorum sensing system: potential antibacterial drug targets

Crit Rev Microbiol. 2011 May;37(2):121-40. doi: 10.3109/1040841X.2010.532479. Epub 2011 Jan 27.

Abstract

Emergence of antibiotic and multi-drug resistant pathogenic bacteria has created the need for new drugs and drug targets. During pathogenesis bacteria release signals which regulate virulence and pathogenicity related genes. Such bacteria co-ordinate their virulent behaviour in a cell density dependent phenomenon termed as quorum sensing (QS). In contrast, microbes interfere with QS system by quenching the signals, termed quorum quenching (QQ). As a consequence of disrupted QS, pathogens become susceptible to antibiotics and drugs. In this article, the biodiversity of organisms with potential to quench QS signals and the use of QQ molecules as antibacterial drugs have been reviewed.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Bacteria / pathogenicity
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Quorum Sensing / drug effects*
  • Virulence / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents