Secondary metabolites and other small molecules as intercellular pathogenic signals.
Microorganisms often use small chemicals or secondary metabolites as informational cues to regulate gene expression. It is hypothesized that microorganisms exploit these signals to gain a competitive advantage. Here, we present examples of pathogens that use this strategy to exclude other microorganisms from the site of infection. An emerging theme is that inhibiting these systems presents a novel approach to antimicrobial therapies.
McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Nicholas
N
Dufour
Reeta Prusty
RP
Rao
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000382:microbiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction