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Quorum Sensing in Gram-Positive Bacteria: Assay Protocols for Staphylococcal agr and Enterococcal fsr Systems

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Microbial Biofilms

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1147))

Abstract

A thiolactone/lactone peptide-mediated quorum sensing (QS) system is commonly employed in gram-positive bacteria to control the expression of a variety of phenotypes, including the production of virulence factors and biofilm formation. Here, we describe assay protocols for the well-studied QS systems (agr and fsr) of two representative gram-positive pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. These convenient assay systems are useful for the screening of QS inhibitors as well as for basic research to address the mechanism of these QS systems.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Prof. Paul Williams for providing the reporter strain S. aureus 8325-4(p2035). This research was supported in part by grants in aid for Scientific Research (B) Nos. 2138006 and 24380050 from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and from the Adaptable and Seamless Technology Transfer Program through Target-Driven R&D (A-step) (AS232Z02064G) from the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

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Correspondence to Jiro Nakayama .

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Shojima, A., Nakayama, J. (2014). Quorum Sensing in Gram-Positive Bacteria: Assay Protocols for Staphylococcal agr and Enterococcal fsr Systems. In: Donelli, G. (eds) Microbial Biofilms. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1147. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0467-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0467-9_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0466-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0467-9

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