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Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, December 2006, p. 859-875, Vol. 70, No. 4
1092-2172/06/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/MMBR.00002-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Messing with Bacterial Quorum Sensing
Juan E. González* and
Neela D. Keshavan
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
Quorum sensing is widely recognized as an efficient mechanism to regulate expression of specific genes responsible for communal behavior in bacteria. Several bacterial phenotypes essential for the successful establishment of symbiotic, pathogenic, or commensal relationships with eukaryotic hosts, including motility, exopolysaccharide production, biofilm formation, and toxin production, are often regulated by quorum sensing. Interestingly, eukaryotes produce quorum-sensing-interfering (QSI) compounds that have a positive or negative influence on the bacterial signaling network. This eukaryotic interference could result in further fine-tuning of bacterial quorum sensing. Furthermore, recent work involving the synthesis of structural homologs to the various quorum-sensing signal molecules has resulted in the development of additional QSI compounds that could be used to control pathogenic bacteria. The creation of transgenic plants that express bacterial quorum-sensing genes is yet another strategy to interfere with bacterial behavior. Further investigation on the manipulation of quorum-sensing systems could provide us with powerful tools against harmful bacteria.
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: FO 3.1, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75083-0688. Phone: (972) 883-2526. Fax: (630) 604-3093. E-mail:
jgonzal{at}utdallas.edu.
Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, December 2006, p. 859-875, Vol. 70, No. 4
1092-2172/06/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/MMBR.00002-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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