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Whole-Cell Biosensors as Tools for the Detection of Quorum-Sensing Molecules: Uses in Diagnostics and the Investigation of the Quorum-Sensing Mechanism

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Bioluminescence: Fundamentals and Applications in Biotechnology - Volume 3

Part of the book series: Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology ((ABE,volume 154))

Abstract

Genetically engineered bacterial whole-cell biosensors are powerful tools that take advantage of bacterial proteins and pathways to allow for detection of a specific analyte. These biosensors have been employed for a broad range of applications, including the detection of bacterial quorum-sensing molecules (QSMs). Bacterial QSMs are the small molecules bacteria use for population density-dependent communication, a process referred to as quorum sensing (QS). Various research groups have investigated the presence of QSMs, including N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) and autoinducer-2 (AI-2), in physiological samples in attempts to enhance our knowledge of the role of bacteria and QS in disease states. Continued studies in these fields may allow for improved patient care and therapeutics based upon QSMs. Furthermore, bacterial whole-cell biosensors have elucidated the roles of some antibiotics as QS agonists and antagonists.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by grants from the National Science Foundation, the Broad Foundation, Broad Medical Research Program, National Institute of Hometown Security, the Children’s Miracle Network, and the Department of Defense. S.D. is grateful for support from the Lucille P. Markey Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Miller School of Medicine of the University of Miami.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA

    Gregory O’Connor, Leslie D. Knecht, Nelson Salgado, Sebastian Strobel, Patrizia Pasini & Sylvia Daunert

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA

    Leslie D. Knecht

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  1. Gregory O’Connor
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  2. Leslie D. Knecht
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  3. Nelson Salgado
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  4. Sebastian Strobel
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  5. Patrizia Pasini
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Correspondence to Leslie D. Knecht .

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  1. UMR CNRS 6144, Universite de Nantes, Nantes, France

    GĂ©rald Thouand

  2. Ben Gurion Univ. of the Negev, Dept. of Biotechnology Engineering, Beer Sheva, Israel

    Robert Marks

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O’Connor, G., Knecht, L.D., Salgado, N., Strobel, S., Pasini, P., Daunert, S. (2015). Whole-Cell Biosensors as Tools for the Detection of Quorum-Sensing Molecules: Uses in Diagnostics and the Investigation of the Quorum-Sensing Mechanism. In: Thouand, G., Marks, R. (eds) Bioluminescence: Fundamentals and Applications in Biotechnology - Volume 3. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, vol 154. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2015_337

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