title: Whole-Cell Biosensors as Tools for the Detection of Quorum-Sensing Molecules: Uses in Diagnostics and the Investigation of the Quorum-Sensing Mechanism.
abstract: Genetically engineered bacterial whole-cell biosensors are powerful tools that take advantage of bacterial proteins and pathways to allow for detection of a specific analyte. These biosensors have been employed for a broad range of applications, including the detection of bacterial quorum-sensing molecules (QSMs). Bacterial QSMs are the small molecules bacteria use for population density-dependent communication, a process referred to as quorum sensing (QS). Various research groups have investigated the presence of QSMs, including N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) and autoinducer-2 (AI-2), in physiological samples in attempts to enhance our knowledge of the role of bacteria and QS in disease states. Continued studies in these fields may allow for improved patient care and therapeutics based upon QSMs. Furthermore, bacterial whole-cell biosensors have elucidated the roles of some antibiotics as QS agonists and antagonists. Graphical Abstract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA. lknecht@miami.edu.|Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA. lknecht@miami.edu.
authors.forename: Leslie D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Knecht
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strobel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daunert
keywords: Autoinducer-2 (AI-2); Cystic Fibrosis (CF); Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD); N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs); Quorum-sensing (QS); Quorum-sensing molecules (QSMs); Urinary Tract Infections (UTI); Whole-cell biosensors