Quorum sensing: a new prospect for the management of antimicrobial-resistant infectious diseases

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Quorum-sensing (QS) is a microbial cell-to-cell communication system that utilizes small signaling molecules to mediates interactions between cross-kingdom microorganisms, including Gram-positive and -negative microbes. QS molecules include N-acyl-homoserine-lactones (AHLs), furanosyl borate, hydroxyl-palmitic acid methylester, and methyl-dodecanoic acid. These signaling molecules maintain the symbiotic relationship between a host and the healthy microbial flora and also control various microbial virulence factors. This manuscript has been developed based on published scientific papers.

Areas covered

Furanones, glycosylated chemicals, heavy metals, and nanomaterials are considered QS inhibitors (QSIs) and are therefore capable of inhibiting the microbial QS system. QSIs are currently being considered as antimicrobial therapeutic options. Currently, the low speed at which new antimicrobial agents are being developed impairs the treatment of drug-resistant infections. Therefore, QSIs are currently being studied as potential interventions targeting QS-signaling molecules and quorum quenching (QQ) enzymes to reduce microbial virulence.

Expert opinion

QSIs represent a novel opportunity to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, no clinical trials have been conducted thus far assessing their efficacy. With the recent advancements in technology and the development of well-designed clinical trials aimed at targeting various components of the, QS system, these agents will undoubtedly provide a useful alternative to treat infectious diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• Quorum sensing
• novel
• outlook
• treatment
• options
• amr
• antimicrobial-Resistant
• contagious
• illnesses

Article highlights

• A post-antibiotic era is approaching where morbidity and mortality might be related to simple infections that are no longer curable by the antibiotics.

• There is a high demand for the research and development of alternative treatment strategies for infectious diseases because of the continued emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens.

• Quorum sensing (QS) is a well-known phenomenon that microbes use to control gene expression to coordinate invasion, defense, and transmission.

• The identification and formulation of suitable chemical agents’ system may be helpful to avoid AMR.

• The reported anti-QS agents are capable of abolishing QS signaling and control biofilm formation, therefore reducing bacterial virulence.

Author contributions

Substantial contributions to the conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data: MH, SI, SD, PU, FML, KI, JC, MAS, ABA, DJ; Drafting of the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content: MH, SI, SD, PU, FML, KI, JC, MAS, ABA, DJ; Final approval of the version to be published: MH, SI, SD, PU, FML, KI, JC, MAS, ABA, DJ; Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved: MH, SI, SD, PU, FML, KI, JC, MAS, ABA, DJ; Project administration: MH, SI, SD, PU, FML, KI, JC, MAS, ABA, DJ.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Prof. Mohammed S. Razzaque, MBBS, Ph.D. of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (Pennsylvania, USA) for providing useful suggestions.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.