Silencing the mob: disrupting quorum sensing as a means to fight plant disease. (29th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Helman, Yael; Chernin, Leonid
• Is Part Of: Molecular plant pathology. Volume 16:Number 3(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 316
• Page End: 329
• Publication Date: 2014-09-29
• Subjects: Plant diseases -- Molecular aspects -- Periodicals; Plant-pathogen relationships -- Molecular aspects -- Periodicals; 571.936
• DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12180
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-6722

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Bacteria are able to sense their population's density through a cell–cell communication system, termed 'quorum sensing' (QS). This system regulates gene expression in response to cell density through the constant production and detection of signalling molecules. These molecules commonly act as auto‐inducers through the up‐regulation of their own synthesis. Many pathogenic bacteria, including those of plants, rely on this communication system for infection of their hosts. The finding that the countering of QS‐disrupting mechanisms exists in many prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms offers a promising novel method to fight disease. During the last decade, several approaches have been proposed to disrupt QS pathways of phytopathogens, and hence to reduce their virulence. Such studies have had varied success <italic>in vivo</italic>, but most lend promising support to the idea that QS manipulation could be a potentially effective method to reduce bacterial‐mediated plant disease. This review discusses the various QS‐disrupting mechanisms found in both bacteria and plants, as well as the different approaches applied artificially to interfere with QS pathways and thus protect plant health.</p> </abstract>