Resistance to quorum-quenching compounds

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2013 Nov;79(22):6840-6. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02378-13. Epub 2013 Sep 6.

Abstract

Bacteria have the remarkable ability to communicate as a group in what has become known as quorum sensing (QS), and this trait has been associated with important bacterial phenotypes, such as virulence and biofilm formation. Bacteria also have an incredible ability to evolve resistance to all known antimicrobials. Hence, although inhibition of QS has been hailed as a means to reduce virulence in a manner that is impervious to bacterial resistance mechanisms, this approach is unlikely to be a panacea. Here we review the evidence that bacteria can evolve resistance to quorum-quenching compounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / genetics*
  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Computational Biology
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Quorum Sensing / physiology*