Quorum Sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Mechanisms, strategies, and a novel inhibitor

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic life-threatening bacterial pathogen, uses quorum sensing signals to modulate the expression of virulent genes. These bacteria exhibit high levels of antimicrobial resistance, which reduces the effectiveness of current antibiotics, highlighting the need for treatments that do not induce selective pressure. A comprehensive understanding of the factors inhibiting quorum sensing in P. aeruginosa is necessary to design an alternative therapeutic strategy for long-term treatments that do not function by traditional bactericidal or bacteriostatic mechanisms. This manuscript is a literature review highlighting a novel, naturally occurring molecule with a high potential to inhibit quorum sensing and virulence. It covers methods by which the anti- virulent nature of this molecule can be verified and how it can be used as a supplement to traditional antibiotics and as a possible new stand-alone medicine.