Article
Microbiology
Tomohiro Morohoshi, Akinori Oshima, Xiaonan Xie, Nobutaka Someya
Summary: Our study demonstrates that the PsyI/PsyR quorum-sensing systems in Pseudomonas syringae strains are genetically and functionally diverse, with diversity being linked to phylogenetic and pathovar classifications.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Manoj Pun, Netaly Khazanov, Ortal Galsurker, Michal Weitman, Zohar Kerem, Hanoch Senderowitz, Iris Yedidia
Summary: Phloretin from apple inhibits the growth and virulence of Pectobacterium brasiliense (Pb1692), an emerging soft-rot pathogen of potato, by reducing motility, biofilm formation, enzyme secretion, AHL signaling molecule production, and infection. The compound inhibits ExpI activity and downregulates virulence-related genes associated with quorum sensing. Docking simulations suggest a likely mode of action for phloretin's inhibition of virulence.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Marion Urvoy, Raphael Lami, Catherine Dreanno, Daniel Delmas, Stephane L'Helguen, Claire Labry
Summary: The study found that regulating AHLs in marine planktonic assemblages can impact both hydrolytic activities and bacterial community composition. Specific enzymatic activities were impacted as early as 6 hours after AHL amendments in both experiments; after 48 hours, the BCC was significantly affected and correlated with the expression of hydrolytic activities, indicating changes in hydrolytic intensities may drive changes in BCC.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomohiro Morohoshi, Kanako Nameki, Nobutaka Someya
Summary: The complete genome sequences of 3 strains of Erwinia rhapontici were presented, revealing a variety of luxl/luxR gene pairs involved in acylhomoserine lactone biosynthesis and reception. A large-scale insertion sequence was observed in the native plasmid of MAFF 311154, which contained eraI3/eraR3 gene pair enabling the production of acylhomoserine lactone.
BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Amanda Rosier, Harsh P. Bais
Summary: Understanding the interactions between bacteria in the rhizosphere is crucial for plant health. Some bacteria communicate intraspecies through quorum sensing (QS) while others interfere with or disrupt this communication through quorum quenching (QQ). Current methods fail to account for the role of the plant root. In this study, an AHL biosensor was used to visualize and study these interactions in the presence of the plant root.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sania Sahreen, Hamid Mukhtar, Kalman Imre, Adriana Morar, Viorel Herman, Sundas Sharif
Summary: This review discusses the role of quorum sensing (QS) in biofilm formation and its importance in biological wastewater treatment. The different types of autoinducers and their mechanisms are explained, along with the methods of QS regulation and inhibition. The potential applications of QS-regulated biofilms in wastewater treatment are also summarized. The article concludes with an analysis of knowledge gaps in current research and proposed future study requirements.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qian Zhu, Dingkang Qian, Mengjiao Yuan, Zhen Li, Ziming Xu, Sha Liang, Wenbo Yu, Shushan Yuan, Jiakuan Yang, Huijie Hou, Jingping Hu
Summary: Electrogenic biofilms in microbial electrochemical systems play important roles in simultaneous wastewater treatment and energy recovery. This research investigated the coordination between intracellular c-di-GMP signaling and reinforced quorum sensing on the formation of mixed-cultured electrogenic biofilm under disruption of electrical signaling. The study revealed that intracellular c-di-GMP was reinforced in response to the disruption, and the dominant DGC induced biofilm formation by mediating exopolysaccharide synthesis. Additionally, reinforced quorum sensing could benefit the biofilm restoration. The study proposed a potential strategy for electrogenic biofilm regulation from the perspectives of cell-to-cell communication.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiyuan Xu, Shuai Wang, Chengxuan Li, Jingxi Li, Fenglei Gao, Li Zheng
Summary: Microplastics in the oceans are a new type of pollutant with complex biofilms. This study investigated the diversity and biological characteristics of quorum sensing bacteria in microplastic-associated biofilms, and found that these bacteria have strong biofilm-forming capacity and potential to exacerbate adverse environmental effects.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Upasana R. Yadav, Kothula Devender, M. Poornima, Cheemalamarri Chandra Sekhar, Krishnam Raju Atcha, B. . V. . Subba Reddy, Pannala Padmaja
Summary: Triazole, sulfonamide, and sulfonyl urea derivatives of N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) have been synthesized from homoserine lactone hydrobromide derived from L-methionine. These compounds were screened for their antibacterial and quorum sensing inhibitory (QSI) activities. Some compounds demonstrated comparable or even better activity than traditional antibiotics and showed potential as new QSI agents.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tomohiro Morohoshi, Naoka Yabe, Naoya Yaguchi, Xiaonan Xie, Nobutaka Someya
Summary: This study investigates the role of the PhzI/PhzR quorum-sensing system in the production of phenazine derivatives and biocontrol activity in two subspecies of Pseudomonas chlororaphis. The results demonstrate the importance of this quorum-sensing system in phenazine production and biocontrol against plant pathogenic fungi.
JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCE AND BIOENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Parker Smith, Martin Schuster
Summary: Quorum sensing is a widespread cell density-dependent signaling mechanism in bacteria. This study demonstrates the role of antiactivators in preventing self-sensing in the quorum sensing system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Mohammed Dwidar, Hyochan Jang, Naseer Sangwan, Wonsik Mun, Hansol Im, Sora Yoon, Sooin Choi, Dougu Nam, Robert J. Mitchell
Summary: The predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus 109J preys on other Gram-negative bacteria to obtain nutrients for replication and survival. Two classes of bacterial signaling molecules, AHLs and DSF, were found to have different effects on the behavior and viability of B. bacteriovorus 109J. DSF significantly delayed predation and bdelloplast lysis, as well as reduced the motility of the cells. Additionally, DSF caused genome-wide changes in gene expression patterns, downregulating flagellum assembly genes and serine protease genes.
Article
Microbiology
Jose Carlos Reina, Pedro Perez, Inmaculada Llamas
Summary: Some strains isolated from marine invertebrates have been found to possess the ability to degrade bacterial communication molecules (AHLs), thereby reducing pathogenic virulence and potentially being applied in biotechnological processes.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Guanhua Xuan, Lin Tan, Yuqing Yang, Jiuna Kong, Hong Lin, Jingxue Wang
Summary: Quorum sensing (QS) plays a crucial role in phage-host interactions. Shewanella baltica lacks the ability to produce N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) signal molecules, but it can eavesdrop on exogenous AHLs through its LuxR receptor. However, the involvement of AHLs-mediated QS systems in regulating phage infection in S. baltica remains uncertain. In this study, we found that AHLs modulated phage resistance in S. baltica OS155 by decreasing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated phage adsorption. Our findings highlight the importance of QS in virus-host interactions and provide valuable insights for developing novel phage strategies for food spoilage control.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Melanie Gonzales, Laure Plener, Jean Armengaud, Nicholas Armstrong, Eric Chabriere, David Daude
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of Quorum sensing in Burkholderia thailandensis using an enzyme-based quorum quenching strategy. The disruption of quorum sensing greatly affects bacterial behavior, including motility, proteolytic activity, and antimicrobial molecule production. Furthermore, the study shows that quorum sensing disruption significantly enhances the bactericidal activity against fungi and yeast. These findings are of prime interest for understanding the virulence of Burkholderia species and developing alternative treatments.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Manuel Romero, Celia Mayer, Stephan Heeb, Krittanont Wattanavaekin, Miguel Camara, Ana Otero, Paul Williams
Summary: This study introduces a novel biofilm culture system, the rolling biofilm bioreactor (RBB), which allows for the investigation of bacterial biofilm architecture and biology. Using this system, the researchers discovered mushroom-shaped structures in mature Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms that had not been observed in other models. They also showed the impact of quorum sensing on biofilm differentiation, composition, and antibiotic tolerance. The study highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms of mature biofilm development for developing new strategies to eradicate and remove biofilms.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Zixin Peng, Alexandre Maciel-Guerra, Michelle Baker, Xibin Zhang, Yue Hu, Wei Wang, Jia Rong, Jing Zhang, Ning Xue, Paul Barrow, David Renney, Dov Stekel, Paul Williams, Longhai Liu, Junshi Chen, Fengqin Li, Tania Dottorini
Summary: This study conducted a long-term investigation in a large-scale commercial poultry farm in China and found highly interrelated non-pathogenic and pathogenic Escherichia coli strains with a high prevalence of multidrug resistance profiles. Through an original data processing method, the study investigated the resistance to 26 different antimicrobials and identified 361 genes associated with antimicrobial resistance phenotypes. It also found shared mobile genetic elements carrying antimicrobial resistance genes among humans, livestock, and the environment.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jean-Frederic Dubern, Manuel Romero, Anne Mai-Prochnow, Marco Messina, Eleftheria Trampari, Hardeep Naghra-van Gijzel, Kok-Gan Chan, Alessandro M. Carabelli, Nicolas Barraud, James Lazenby, Ye Chen, Shaun Robertson, Jacob G. Malone, Paul Williams, Stephan Heeb, Miguel Camara
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses multiple protein regulators, including ToxR, to control the production of virulence factors and adapt to different environments. This study reveals the previously unknown role of ToxR in surface-associated motility and its impact on the Rhl quorum sensing system and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valentina Cuzzucoli Crucitti, Aleksandar Ilchev, Jonathan C. Moore, Harriet R. Fowler, Jean-Frederic Dubern, Olutoba Sanni, Xuan Xue, Bethany K. Husband, Adam A. Dundas, Sean Smith, Joni L. Wildman, Vincenzo Taresco, Paul Williams, Morgan R. Alexander, Steven M. Howdle, Ricky D. Wildman, Robert A. Stockman, Derek J. Irvine
Summary: This study utilized the alpha parameter, a molecular descriptor, to design terpene-based polymers resistant to biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The potential biofilm resistance of terpene-derived monomers was predicted and ranked using the alpha parameter. The monomers from commercially available terpenes were polymerized and confirmed to have biofilm resistance properties. The scaled-up monomers were successfully printed and used to create bio-instructive microparticles. The observations in this study have significant potential to produce bio-resistant coatings, packaging materials, fibers, and medical devices.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jean-Frederic Dubern, Andrew L. Hook, Alessandro M. Carabelli, Chien-Yi Chang, Christopher A. Lewis-Lloyd, Jeni C. Luckett, Laurence Burroughs, Adam A. Dundas, David J. Humes, Derek J. Irvine, Morgan R. Alexander, Paul Williams
Summary: Innovative approaches are urgently needed to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). A newly discovered acrylate copolymer has shown promising resistance against bacterial biofilm formation, swarming, encrustation, and host protein deposition, all of which are major challenges in preventing CAUTIs. The copolymer, poly(tert-butyl cyclohexyl acrylate), combined with poly(2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl acrylate) has demonstrated its potential as a urinary catheter coating by retaining its bioinstructive properties and maintaining resistance against various uropathogens.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Leonardo Contreas, Andrew L. Hook, David A. Winkler, Grazziela Figueredo, Paul Williams, Charles A. Laughton, Morgan R. Alexander, Philip M. Williams
Summary: Bacterial infections are becoming a greater concern due to antimicrobial resistance. The rational design of materials resistant to biofilm formation is a crucial strategy to prevent infections related to medical devices. Machine learning has been used to identify strong associations between bacterial adhesion and the physicochemical properties of polyacrylate libraries. However, the interpretability of nonlinear models is limited, making it challenging to understand the molecular interactions between materials and bacteria.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Heba Khateb, Andrew L. Hook, Stefanie Kern, Julie A. Watts, Sonali Singh, Darryl Jackson, Luisa Marinez-Pomares, Paul Williams, Morgan R. Alexander
Summary: The use of OrbiTrap analyzer with SIMS (3D OrbiSIMS) enables label-free mass spectrometry of Psl, accurately identifying secondary ion peaks specific to the Psl structure. By studying P. aeruginosa biofilm and purified Psl, 17 peaks associated with Psl fragments within the biofilm matrix were confidently identified. Additionally, the neutral loss sequences approach can also identify multiple oligosaccharide fragments without a biological reference sample.
Article
Microbiology
Jean-Frederic Dubern, Nigel Halliday, Miguel Camara, Klaus Winzer, David A. Barrett, Kim R. Hardie, Paul Williams
Summary: Quorum sensing (QS) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa relies on the Las, Rhl, and Pqs systems to regulate the synthesis of AHLs and AQs. While QS is commonly thought to be population density-dependent, this study demonstrates that growth rate and population density independently modulate the accumulation of AHLs and AQs. Different nutrient limitations, temperature, and mutation of key QS genes also affect the production of AHLs and AQs in P. aeruginosa. QS imposes an energetic drain on the bacterium by consuming key substrates and ATP.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alessandra Ottonello, Jessica A. Wyllie, Oussama Yahiaoui, Shoujun Sun, Rebecca A. Koelln, Joshua A. Homer, Robert M. Johnson, Ewan Murray, Paul Williams, Jani R. Bolla, Carol Robinson, Thomas Fallon, Tatiana P. Soares da Costa, John E. Moses
Summary: The rise of drug-resistant superbugs poses a significant global health hazard. A new class of shapeshifting vancomycin dimers has been synthesized, which shows potent activity against drug-resistant bacteria. These shapeshifting antibiotics have the ability to inhibit bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and are not easily affected by common resistance mechanisms.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Giulia Giallonardi, Morgana Letizia, Marta Mellini, Emanuela Frangipani, Nigel Halliday, Stephan Heeb, Miguel Camara, Paolo Visca, Francesco Imperi, Livia Leoni, Paul Williams, Giordano Rampioni
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a model pathogen with multiple quorum sensing circuits that control virulence factor production and biofilm formation. The pqs QS system in P. aeruginosa synthesizes AQs including HHQ and PQS, which act as signal molecules. Transcriptomic analyses show that HHQ and PQS influence gene expression through PqsR-dependent and -independent pathways. However, HQNO has no effect on P. aeruginosa transcriptome. Mutation of pqsL in P. aeruginosa leads to autolysis in colony biofilms through the accumulation of HHQ and activation of Pf4 prophage.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
See Yoong Wong, Andrew L. Hook, Wil Gardner, Chien-Yi Chang, Ying Mei, Martyn C. Davies, Paul Williams, Morgan R. Alexander, Davide Ballabio, Benjamin W. Muir, David A. Winkler, Paul J. Pigram
Summary: Biofilm formation is a major problem in hospitals, and researching biofilm-resistant materials is critical. Polymer microarrays can efficiently discover new biofilm-resistant polymers. This study investigates bacterial attachment and surface chemistry on a polymer microarray to better understand Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation. Analyzing the data using linear multivariate analysis and a nonlinear self-organizing map reveals fragment ions associated with bacterial biofilm formation. Considering these insights, a second analysis is conducted that explicitly considers interactions between key fragments. This improved model provides chemical insights for designing materials that prevent pathogen attachment.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Philip Bardelang, Ewan J. Murray, Isobel Blower, Sara Zandomeneghi, Alice Goode, Rohanah Hussain, Divya Kumari, Giuliano Siligardi, Katsuaki Inoue, Jeni Luckett, James Doutch, Jonas Emsley, Weng C. Chan, Philip Hill, Paul Williams, Boyan B. Bonev
Summary: The virulence gene expression in S. aureus is controlled by the agr quorum sensing system, and the AgrB and AgrD proteins play important roles in this process. Through homology modelling and molecular dynamics techniques, the conformations of AgrB and AgrD were characterized and their interaction mechanisms were analyzed. Experimental evidence confirmed the direct interaction between AgrB and AgrD, and the formation of AgrBD complex in vitro. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind the regulation of virulence gene expression in S. aureus.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Macauley J. Green, Ewan J. Murray, Paul Williams, Amir M. Ghaemmaghami, Jonathan W. Aylott, Philip M. Williams
Summary: Under low-shear modeled microgravity conditions, Staphylococcus aureus exhibited a colonization phenotype instead of a pathogenic one, due to reduced production of autoinducing peptide signal molecules.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Marta Mellini, Morgana Letizia, Lorenzo Caruso, Alessandra Guiducci, Carlo Meneghini, Stephan Heeb, Paul Williams, Miguel Camara, Paolo Visca, Francesco Imperi, Livia Leoni, Giordano Rampioni
Summary: Quorum sensing allows single cells to synchronize gene expression in bacterial populations, but studies have shown significant cell-to-cell variation in this process, resulting in coexisting subpopulations of active and inactive cells. The molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon, particularly in the las QS system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, have not been fully defined.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ewan J. Murray, Jean-Frederic Dubern, Weng C. Chan, Siri Ram Chhabra, Paul Williams
Summary: In this study, the researchers discovered that the PqsR inhibitor QZN 34 can prevent the biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus, damage established S. aureus biofilms, and interfere with the biofilm development of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The combination of the aminoglycoside antibiotic tobramycin with QZN 34 can effectively eradicate mixed-species biofilms.
CELL CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)