Quorum sensing and its relevance to infectious diseases.
Quorum sensing allows bacteria to detect the density of their own species and alter their metabolism to take advantage of this density. Quorum sensing is used by a wide variety of bacteria including human pathogens. Quorum sensing genes are important for the pathogenic potential of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as other invasive bacteria. An understanding of quorum sensing may lead to new therapeutic strategies.
Donabedian
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Departments of Internal Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, OH 43614, USA. h.donabedian@mco.edu
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics