Bacterial Cell-to-Cell Communication: Role in Virulence and PathogenesisDonald R. Demuth, Richard Lamont Many bacterial diseases are caused by organisms growing together as communities or biofilms. These microorganisms have the capacity to coordinately regulate specific sets of genes by sensing and communicating amongst themselves utilizing a variety of signals. This book examines the mechanisms of quorum sensing and cell-to-cell communication in bacteria and the roles that these processes play in regulating virulence, bacterial interactions with host tissues, and microbial development. Recent studies suggest that microbial cell-to-cell communication plays an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of disease processes. Furthermore, some bacterial signal molecules may possess immunomodulatory activity. Thus, understanding the mechanisms and outcomes of bacterial cell-to-cell communication has important implications for appreciating host-pathogen interactions and ultimately may provide new targets for antimicrobial therapies that block or interfere with these communication networks. |
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Bacterial Cell-to-Cell Communication: Role in Virulence and Pathogenesis Donald R. Demuth,Richard Lamont No preview available - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
Acad actinomycetemcomitans activity autoinducer B. H. Iglewski bacteria Bacteriol bacterium binding biofilm biofilm development biofilm formation C-signal cell density cell-to-cell signaling colonization competence compounds conjugation csgA domain EHEC encoding EPEC epidermidis Escherichia coli extracellular fruiting bodies function furanone gene expression genetic genome gingivalis gordonii growth harveyi Hentzer homolog homoserine lactone host identified Immun induced infection inhibit interactions involved kinase LasR LuxR luxS mutant mechanism metabolism Microbiol Microbiology Molec motility mutant Myxococcus xanthus N-terminal Natn OOHL operon oral pathogenesis pathogenic pathway peptide plasmid pneumoniae Proc production protease protein Pseudomonas aeruginosa quinolone quorum sensing quorum sensing system receptor regulation regulatory regulon response RhlR RNAIII role S. C. Winans Salmonella sequence signal molecule signal transduction specific Sperandio sporulation Staphylococcus aureus strain Streptococcus structure suggesting synthesis Ti plasmid transcription TraR tumefaciens two-component typhimurium Vibrio cholerae Vibrio harveyi virulence factors virulence gene wild-type