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Journal of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics Fast Forward
First published on November 4, 2004; DOI: 10.1124/jpet.104.075150

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Received for publication July 29, 2004.
Revised October 22, 2004.
Accepted for publication October 25, 2004.

Bacterial Communication ('Quorum Sensing') via Ligands and Receptors: A Novel Pharmacologic Target for the Design of Antibiotic Drugs

Robert B. Raffa 1*, Joseph R. Iannuzzo 1, Diana R. Levine 1, Kamal K. Saeid 1, Rachel C. Schwartz 1, Nicholas T. Sucic 1, Oksana D. Terleckyj 1, Jeffrey M. Young 1

1 Temple University School of Pharmacy

* Address correspondence to: E-mail: robert.raffa{at}temple.edu

Abstract

The purpose of the present Perspective is to present a synopsis of the literature on bacterial 'quorum sensing' as background for the proposal that interference with this communication system offers potential targets for the design of novel antibiotic drugs. Quorum sensing is the recently discovered chemical communication system among bacteria (both gram-positive and gram-negative). It is vital for intra- and inter-bacterial gene-regulation and for keeping bacterial colonies ('biofilms') intact, allowing resident bacteria to assume specialized roles that contribute to enhanced survival of the group. There are several processes involved in quorum sensing that are familiar to pharmacologists: viz., specific signaling molecules bind to and activate receptors that transduce the quorum-sensing signal into intracellular 2nd-messenger responses. We highlight here the similarity between quorum sensing communication to ligand-receptor interactions, suggesting that inhibitor drugs could be designed using current standard pharmacologic principles. Such drugs would have novel mechanisms of action and might therefore be more effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.


Key words: antibiotic resistance, bacteria, biofilms, drug design, quorum sensing, receptor signaling


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Siamycin Attenuates fsr Quorum Sensing Mediated by a Gelatinase Biosynthesis-Activating Pheromone in Enterococcus faecalis
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[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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