Quorum-Sensing Systems as Targets for Antivirulence Therapy

Research over the past decades has shown that bacteria communicate with each other with small signal molecules in a process that has been termed quorum sensing, and the list of bacterial quorum-sensing molecules is still growing. The virulence of many bacterial pathogens of plants, animals, and humans is controlled by quorum sensing, and quorum-sensing-interference is one of the most intensively studied strategies for controlling disease caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Various quorum-sensing-interfering agents have been described in recent years, including natural and synthetic compounds, enzymes, and antibodies, and these agents have been proven to attenuate bacterial disease in animal and plant models. The development of novel therapies to control diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens is one of the major challenges we are currently facing. Many important plant, animal, and human pathogens regulate virulence by quorum sensing, bacterial cell-to-cell communication with small signal molecules. Consequently, a significant research effort is being undertaken to identify and use quorum-sensing-interfering agents in order to control diseases caused by these pathogens. In this review, an overview of our current knowledge of quorum-sensing systems of Gram-negative model pathogens is presented as well as the link with virulence of these pathogens, and recent advances and challenges in the development of quorum-sensing-interfering therapies are discussed. The development of novel therapies to control diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens is one of the major challenges we are currently facing. Many important plant, animal, and human pathogens regulate virulence by quorum sensing, bacterial cell-to-cell communication with small signal molecules. Consequently, a significant research effort is being undertaken to identify and use quorum-sensing-interfering agents in order to control diseases caused by these pathogens. In this review, an overview of our current knowledge of quorum-sensing systems of Gram-negative model pathogens is presented as well as the link with virulence of these pathogens, and recent advances and challenges in the development of quorum-sensing-interfering therapies are discussed.