Frontiers in Microbiology (Nov 2015)
Modulation of host biology by Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing signal molecules: messengers or traitors
Abstract
Bacterial cells sense their population density and respond accordingly by producing various signal molecules to the surrounding environments thereby trigger a plethora of gene expression. This regulatory pathway is termed quorum sensing (QS). Plenty of bacterial virulence factors are controlled by QS or QS-mediated regulatory systems and QS signal molecules (QSSMs) play crucial roles in bacterial signalling transduction. Moreover, bacterial QSSMs were shown to interfere host cell signalling and modulate host immune responses. QSSMs not only regulate the expression of bacterial virulence factors but themselves act in the modulation of host biology that can be potential therapeutic targets.
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