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Controlling the activity of quorum sensing autoinducers with light
J P Van der Berg1, W A Velema2, W Szymanski2,3
1Molecular Microbiology , Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute , University of Groningen , Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG , Groningen , The Netherlands .
None:
Bacteria use a communication system, called quorum sensing (QS), to organize into communities and synchronize gene expression to promote virulence and secure survival. Here we report on a proof-of-principle for externally interfering with this bacterial communication system, using light. By employing photoswitchable small molecules, we were able to photocontrol the QS-related bioluminescence in an Escherichia coli reporter strain, and the expression of target QS genes and pyocyanin production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
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