Quorum sensing in bacteria: insights into communication and inhibition strategies-a review

Quorum sensing (QS) is a fundamental bacterial communication mechanism that promotes population-dependent behaviors including biofilm formation, virulence, and sporulation via signaling molecules called autoinducers. This review provides a comprehensive overview of QS and quorum sensing-mediated cross-talk in Gram-negative bacteria using N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), Gram-positive bacteria employing oligopeptides, and the universal autoinducer-2 (AI-2) system. Advances in synthetic biology and engineered QS circuits have improved understanding and control of microbial communication. The review highlights quorum quenching (QQ) and diverse classes of quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs)-natural, synthetic, antibody-based, enzymatic, CRISPR-mediated, and those currently in clinical trials-focusing on their potential to interfere with signaling pathways and attenuate virulence. The interplay between QS, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and QSIs is examined, emphasizing their capability to suppress pathogenicity without inducing resistance. Recent emerging approaches for QS regulation have also been mentioned. The applications of QS-targeted strategies in healthcare, agriculture, aquaculture, food industry, and medical device biofilm management are discussed, underscoring the translational promise of QSIs as sustainable, resistance-free tools for effective antimicrobial control.