Broad spectrum pro-quorum-sensing molecules as inhibitors of virulence in vibrios. Author Wai-Leung Ng, Lark Perez, Jianping Cong, Martin Semmelhack, Bonnie Bassler Publication Year 2012 Type Journal Article Abstract Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial cell-cell communication process that relies on the production and detection of extracellular signal molecules called autoinducers. QS allows bacteria to perform collective activities. Vibrio cholerae, a pathogen that causes an acute disease, uses QS to repress virulence factor production and biofilm formation. Thus, molecules that activate QS in V. cholerae have the potential to control pathogenicity in this globally important bacterium. Using a whole-cell high-throughput screen, we identified eleven molecules that activate V. cholerae QS: eight molecules are receptor agonists and three molecules are antagonists of LuxO, the central NtrC-type response regulator that controls the global V. cholerae QS cascade. The LuxO inhibitors act by an uncompetitive mechanism by binding to the pre-formed LuxO-ATP complex to inhibit ATP hydrolysis. Genetic analyses suggest that the inhibitors bind in close proximity to the Walker B motif. The inhibitors display broad-spectrum capability in activation of QS in Vibrio species that employ LuxO. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first molecules identified that inhibit the ATPase activity of a NtrC-type response regulator. Our discovery supports the idea that exploiting pro-QS molecules is a promising strategy for the development of novel anti-infectives. Keywords Quorum Sensing, Biofilms, Structure-Activity Relationship, Vibrio cholerae, Bacterial Proteins, Humans, Virulence, Blotting, Western, HeLa Cells, High-Throughput Screening Assays Journal PLoS Pathog Volume 8 Issue 6 Pages e1002767 Date Published 2012 ISSN Number 1553-7374 DOI 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002767 Alternate Journal PLoS Pathog PMCID PMC3386246 PMID 22761573 PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML