title: The hierarchy quorum sensing network in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes severe and persistent infections in immune compromised individuals and cystic fibrosis sufferers. The infection is hard to eradicate as P. aeruginosa has developed strong resistance to most conventional antibiotics. The problem is further compounded by the ability of the pathogen to form biofilm matrix, which provides bacterial cells a protected environment withstanding various stresses including antibiotics. Quorum sensing (QS), a cell density-based intercellular communication system, which plays a key role in regulation of the bacterial virulence and biofilm formation, could be a promising target for developing new strategies against P. aeruginosa infection. The QS network of P. aeruginosa is organized in a multi-layered hierarchy consisting of at least four interconnected signaling mechanisms. Evidence is accumulating that the QS regulatory network not only responds to bacterial population changes but also could react to environmental stress cues. This plasticity should be taken into consideration during exploration and development of anti-QS therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Lianhui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000502:physiology*; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C080365:LasR protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; C086515:RhlR protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D015534:Trans-Activators; C088386:homoserine lactone; C072908:ANR protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D007501:Iron; D015107:4-Butyrolactone