Cell-to-cell signalling during pathogenesis

Christopher T. Parker, Vanessa Sperandio

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

106 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pathogenic bacteria produce virulence factors only when they sense they are in a location in which the energy required for pathogenesis is warranted. One environmental factor monitored by pathogens is population density, either of its own population or of the population of a host's endogenous flora. To date, four systems have been described which allow pathogens to regulate virulence genes in a population-dependent manner. These systems are found in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative cells and utilize various mechanisms to control gene regulation at a transcriptional level, but they all have one feature in common: they detect autoinducers released by cells belonging to either the pathogen's population or that of the host's flora. This article explores the role of these four signalling systems in bacterial communities and how pathogens use these systems to control genes required during host invasion and infection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)363-369
Number of pages7
JournalCellular Microbiology
Volume11
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Virology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cell-to-cell signalling during pathogenesis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this