Quorum Sensing: A Prospective Therapeutic Target for Bacterial Diseases

• Main Authors: Qian Jiang, Jiashun Chen, Chengbo Yang, Yulong Yin, Kang Yao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2019-01-01
• Series: BioMed Research International
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/2015978

Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication in which specific signals are activated to coordinate pathogenic behaviors and help bacteria acclimatize to the disadvantages. The QS signals in the bacteria mainly consist of acyl-homoserine lactone, autoinducing peptide, and autoinducer-2. QS signaling activation and biofilm formation lead to the antimicrobial resistance of the pathogens, thus increasing the therapy difficulty of bacterial diseases. Anti-QS agents can abolish the QS signaling and prevent the biofilm formation, therefore reducing bacterial virulence without causing drug-resistant to the pathogens, suggesting that anti-QS agents are potential alternatives for antibiotics. This review focuses on the anti-QS agents and their mediated signals in the pathogens and conveys the potential of QS targeted therapy for bacterial diseases.