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Bioassays of Quorum Sensing Compounds Using Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Chromobacterium violaceum

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Quorum Sensing

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 692))

Abstract

In most bacteria, a global level of regulation exists involving intercellular communication via the production and response to cell density-dependent signal molecules. This cell density-dependent regulation has been termed quorum sensing (QS). QS is a global regulator, which has been associated with a number of important features in bacteria including virulence regulation and biofilm formation. Consequently, there is considerable interest in understanding, detecting, and inhibiting QS. Acyl homoserine lactones (acyl HSLs) are used as extracellular QS signals by a variety of Gram-negative bacteria. Chromobacterium violaceum, a Gram-negative bacterium commonly found in soil and water, produces the characteristic purple pigment violacein, the production of which is regulated by acyl HSL-mediated QS. Based on this readily observed pigmentation phenotype, C. violaceum strains can be used to detect various aspects of acyl HSL-mediated QS activity. In another commonly used bioassay organism, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, QS can be detected by the use of a reporter gene such as lacZ. Here, we describe several commonly used approaches incorporating C. violaceum and A. tumefaciens that can be used to detect acyl HSLs and QS inhibition.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Clay Fuqua and Steve Winans for providing these strains and introducing us to quorum signaling. Work in RJCM’s laboratory is supported by a grant from the Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program (003615-0037-2007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, TX, USA

    Weihua Chu & Robert J. C. McLean

  2. Department of Microbiology, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, P. R. China

    Weihua Chu

  3. Molecular and Cellular Nutrition Program, Department of Family and Consumer Science, Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, TX, USA

    Dhiraj A. Vattem

  4. Department of Family and Consumer Science, Molecular and Cellular Nutrition Program, Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, TX, USA

    Vatsala Maitin

  5. Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA

    Mary B. Barnes

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  1. Weihua Chu
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  2. Dhiraj A. Vattem
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  3. Vatsala Maitin
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  5. Robert J. C. McLean
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Health Sciences Center, Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University, 4th Street 3601, Lubbock, 79430, Texas, USA

    Kendra P. Rumbaugh

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Chu, W., Vattem, D.A., Maitin, V., Barnes, M.B., McLean, R.J.C. (2011). Bioassays of Quorum Sensing Compounds Using Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Chromobacterium violaceum . In: Rumbaugh, K. (eds) Quorum Sensing. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 692. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-971-0_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-971-0_1

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-970-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-971-0

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