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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Lab Physicians 2011; 3(01): 004-011
DOI: 10.4103/0974-2727.78553
Review Article

Quorum sensing and Bacterial Pathogenicity: From Molecules to Disease

Antariksh Deep
Department of Microbiology, Pt. B.D. Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak - 124 001, India
,
Uma Chaudhary
Department of Microbiology, Pt. B.D. Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak - 124 001, India
,
Varsha Gupta
Department of GMCH, Sector-32, Chandigarh, India
› Author Affiliations Source of Support: Nil
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ABSTRACT

Quorum sensing in prokaryotic biology refers to the ability of a bacterium to sense information from other cells in the population when they reach a critical concentration (i.e. a Quorum) and communicate with them. The "language" used for this intercellular communication is based on small, self-generated signal molecules called as autoinducers. Quorum sensing is thought to afford pathogenic bacteria a mechanism to minimize host immune responses by delaying the production of tissue-damaging virulence factors until sufficient bacteria have amassed and are prepared to overwhelm host defense mechanisms and establish infection. Quorum sensing systems are studied in a large number of gram-negative bacterial species belonging to α, β, and γ subclasses of proteobacteria. Among the pathogenic bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is perhaps the best understood in terms of the virulence factors regulated and the role the Quorum sensing plays in pathogenicity. Presently, Quorum sensing is considered as a potential novel target for antimicrobial therapy to control multi/all drug-resistant infections. This paper reviews Quorum sensing in gram positive and gram negative bacteria and its role in biofilm formation.

Keywords

Autoinducer - acyl homoserine lactone - biofilm - Quorum sensing


Publication History

Article published online:
29 January 2020

© 2011.

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