[Quorum sensing and its roles in pathogenesis among animal-associated pathogens--a review].
Quorum sensing (QS) is a phenomenon that microbes regulate some of their genes by signals related to the density of population. It is confirmed that acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL), some peptides, some furanones and some other small moleculars can be used as quorum-sensing signals by microbes. Microbes control their physiology with different QS systems in parallel or hierarchical ways. A lot of microbial pathogenesis connect with quorum sensing closely. More and more studies show that QS systems regulate microbial pathogenesis through the following points: (1) QS helping pathogens invasion and colonization; (2) QS regulating production of virulent factor; (3) QS giving pathogens the ability of immunity or drug resistance. We review the role of QS in microbial pathogenesis and address a new way to prevent and control microbial diseases.
Wu
Qingping
Q
Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangzhou 510070, China. wuqp203@yahoo.com.cn
Wu
Kui
K
Ye
Yingwang
Y
Dong
Xiaohui
X
Zhang
Jumei
J
D054742:Acyl-Butyrolactones / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D014774:Virulence
D054742:Acyl-Butyrolactones