Communication with a growing family: diffusible signal factor (DSF) signaling in bacteria

Many pathogenic bacteria use cell–cell signaling to regulate the expression of factors contributing to virulence. Bacteria produce signals of diverse structural classes. The signal molecule known as diffusible signal factor (DSF) is a cis -unsaturated fatty acid that was first described in the plant...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in microbiology (Regular ed.) 2011-03, Vol.19 (3), p.145-152
Main Authors: Ryan, Robert P, Dow, J. Maxwell
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology
antibiotics
bacteria
Bacterial Proteins - metabolism
biofilm
Biofilms - growth & development
Burkholderia
Burkholderia cenocepacia
Burkholderia cenocepacia - drug effects
Burkholderia cenocepacia - pathogenicity
Burkholderia cenocepacia - physiology
disease control
Drug Resistance, Bacterial
fatty acids
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - classification
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
Humans
Internal Medicine
plant pathogens
Protein Kinases - metabolism
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - drug effects
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - pathogenicity
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - physiology
Signal Transduction
Virulence
Xanthomonas campestris
Xanthomonas campestris - pathogenicity
Xanthomonas campestris - physiology
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Summary:Many pathogenic bacteria use cell–cell signaling to regulate the expression of factors contributing to virulence. Bacteria produce signals of diverse structural classes. The signal molecule known as diffusible signal factor (DSF) is a cis -unsaturated fatty acid that was first described in the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris . Recent work has shown that structurally related molecules produced by the unrelated bacteria Burkholderia cenocepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa regulate virulence, biofilm formation and antibiotic tolerance in these important human pathogens. Furthermore, DSF family signals have been shown to be involved in interspecies signaling that modulates bacterial behavior. An understanding of these diverse signaling mechanisms could suggest strategies for interference, with consequences for disease control.
ISSN:0966-842X
1878-4380
DOI:10.1016/j.tim.2010.12.003