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Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Time-lapse Imaging of Bacterial Swarms and the Collective Stress Response
Published on: May 23, 2020
Modulation of mammalian cell processes by bacterial quorum sensing molecules
Vladimir V Kravchenko1, Richard J Ulevitch, Gunnar F Kaufmann
1Department of Immunology & Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Abstract:
Microbial pathogens use a wide repertoire of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that affect host cell responses through activation of intracellular signaling events in a PAMP-specific manner. Here we describe a set of western blot-based methodologies for the evaluation of biochemical effects specifically induced by N-(3-oxo-acyl) homoserine lactones (3-oxo-AHLs) small molecules secreted by a number of Gram-negative bacteria, including the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. First, we will highlight the AHL-mediated effects on proapoptotic and stress pathways. Secondly, we will demonstrate that AHLs possess the ability to alter stimulus-induced NF-κB signaling, a key biochemical marker of inflammation and innate immune responses.
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