Targeting the Holy Triangle of Quorum Sensing, Biofilm Formation, and Antibiotic Resistance in Pathogenic Bacteria
Chronic and recurrent bacterial infections are frequently associated with the formation of biofilms on biotic or abiotic materials that are composed of mono- or multi-species cultures of bacteria/fungi embedded in an extracellular matrix produced by the microorganisms. Biofilm formation is, among ot...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/6/1239 |
| _version_ | 1827658246421217280 |
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| author | Ronit Vogt Sionov Doron Steinberg |
| author_facet | Ronit Vogt Sionov Doron Steinberg |
| author_sort | Ronit Vogt Sionov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chronic and recurrent bacterial infections are frequently associated with the formation of biofilms on biotic or abiotic materials that are composed of mono- or multi-species cultures of bacteria/fungi embedded in an extracellular matrix produced by the microorganisms. Biofilm formation is, among others, regulated by quorum sensing (QS) which is an interbacterial communication system usually composed of two-component systems (TCSs) of secreted autoinducer compounds that activate signal transduction pathways through interaction with their respective receptors. Embedded in the biofilms, the bacteria are protected from environmental stress stimuli, and they often show reduced responses to antibiotics, making it difficult to eradicate the bacterial infection. Besides reduced penetration of antibiotics through the intricate structure of the biofilms, the sessile biofilm-embedded bacteria show reduced metabolic activity making them intrinsically less sensitive to antibiotics. Moreover, they frequently express elevated levels of efflux pumps that extrude antibiotics, thereby reducing their intracellular levels. Some efflux pumps are involved in the secretion of QS compounds and biofilm-related materials, besides being important for removing toxic substances from the bacteria. Some efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) have been shown to both prevent biofilm formation and sensitize the bacteria to antibiotics, suggesting a relationship between these processes. Additionally, QS inhibitors or quenchers may affect antibiotic susceptibility. Thus, targeting elements that regulate QS and biofilm formation might be a promising approach to combat antibiotic-resistant biofilm-related bacterial infections. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:59:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c18fc6abf474496a583c7eb7827124f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:59:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c18fc6abf474496a583c7eb7827124f2023-11-23T18:05:21ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072022-06-01106123910.3390/microorganisms10061239Targeting the Holy Triangle of Quorum Sensing, Biofilm Formation, and Antibiotic Resistance in Pathogenic BacteriaRonit Vogt Sionov0Doron Steinberg1The Biofilm Research Laboratory, The Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research, The Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, IsraelThe Biofilm Research Laboratory, The Institute of Biomedical and Oral Research, The Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9112102, IsraelChronic and recurrent bacterial infections are frequently associated with the formation of biofilms on biotic or abiotic materials that are composed of mono- or multi-species cultures of bacteria/fungi embedded in an extracellular matrix produced by the microorganisms. Biofilm formation is, among others, regulated by quorum sensing (QS) which is an interbacterial communication system usually composed of two-component systems (TCSs) of secreted autoinducer compounds that activate signal transduction pathways through interaction with their respective receptors. Embedded in the biofilms, the bacteria are protected from environmental stress stimuli, and they often show reduced responses to antibiotics, making it difficult to eradicate the bacterial infection. Besides reduced penetration of antibiotics through the intricate structure of the biofilms, the sessile biofilm-embedded bacteria show reduced metabolic activity making them intrinsically less sensitive to antibiotics. Moreover, they frequently express elevated levels of efflux pumps that extrude antibiotics, thereby reducing their intracellular levels. Some efflux pumps are involved in the secretion of QS compounds and biofilm-related materials, besides being important for removing toxic substances from the bacteria. Some efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) have been shown to both prevent biofilm formation and sensitize the bacteria to antibiotics, suggesting a relationship between these processes. Additionally, QS inhibitors or quenchers may affect antibiotic susceptibility. Thus, targeting elements that regulate QS and biofilm formation might be a promising approach to combat antibiotic-resistant biofilm-related bacterial infections.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/6/1239antibiotic resistanceantibiotic sensitizationbiofilmbiofilm inhibitorsefflux pump inhibitorsESKAPE bacteria |
| spellingShingle | Ronit Vogt Sionov Doron Steinberg Targeting the Holy Triangle of Quorum Sensing, Biofilm Formation, and Antibiotic Resistance in Pathogenic Bacteria Microorganisms antibiotic resistance antibiotic sensitization biofilm biofilm inhibitors efflux pump inhibitors ESKAPE bacteria |
| title | Targeting the Holy Triangle of Quorum Sensing, Biofilm Formation, and Antibiotic Resistance in Pathogenic Bacteria |
| title_full | Targeting the Holy Triangle of Quorum Sensing, Biofilm Formation, and Antibiotic Resistance in Pathogenic Bacteria |
| title_fullStr | Targeting the Holy Triangle of Quorum Sensing, Biofilm Formation, and Antibiotic Resistance in Pathogenic Bacteria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting the Holy Triangle of Quorum Sensing, Biofilm Formation, and Antibiotic Resistance in Pathogenic Bacteria |
| title_short | Targeting the Holy Triangle of Quorum Sensing, Biofilm Formation, and Antibiotic Resistance in Pathogenic Bacteria |
| title_sort | targeting the holy triangle of quorum sensing biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria |
| topic | antibiotic resistance antibiotic sensitization biofilm biofilm inhibitors efflux pump inhibitors ESKAPE bacteria |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/6/1239 |
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