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Can resistance against quorum-sensing interference be selected?
Rodolfo García-Contreras1, Toshinari Maeda2, Thomas K Wood3
1Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
The ISME Journal
|May 30, 2015
Summary
Quorum-sensing (QS) interference, a novel anti-bacterial strategy, faces emerging resistance. This study explores how host immune stress might accelerate the spread of QS interference resistance in clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
- Drug Resistance
Background:
- Quorum-sensing (QS) interference is a therapeutic strategy targeting bacterial virulence, not growth.
- It was hypothesized to be less prone to resistance than traditional antibiotics.
- Recent findings show resistance mechanisms against QS interference compounds (QQs) exist in lab and clinical strains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential for resistance spread against QS interference.
- To explore the influence of host environmental conditions on resistance selection.
- To address the clinical implications of QS interference resistance.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent experimental insights.
- Discussion of environmental factors, including host immune stress.
- Analysis of factors influencing resistance selection and spread.
Main Results:
- Resistance mechanisms against QS interference are confirmed.
- Environmental conditions, particularly host immune stress, can promote resistance selection.
- The spread of resistance in clinical settings is a plausible concern.
Conclusions:
- While QS interference offers a promising alternative, bacterial resistance is possible.
- Host immune pressure may significantly impact the evolution and prevalence of resistance.
- Further research is needed to understand and mitigate resistance spread in clinical applications.
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