WAMSI Node 5.4 - (PhD) Quorum quenching compounds from marine bacteria

Antibiotic resistance is of enormous concern in disease control and is one of the factors driving the search for new strategies for controlling bacterial growth. Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial communication process that allows control of gene expression in relation to cell density. Bacterial activities under QS control include the production of pigments and toxins, bioluminescence, swarming motility and biofilm formation. Quorum quenching (QQ) compounds inhibit the QS process, with the potential to control detrimental bacterial activities. QQ compounds have been isolated from several plants, algae, fungi and several bacteria. The aim of the project was to isolate and characterise QQ compounds from marine bacteria and investigating the mechanism by which the compound interferes with quorum sensing.

Objectives of project were:

(i) to purify and identify quorum quenching compounds (QQCs) from marine invertebrates and bacteria;
(ii) to assess the diversity of quorum quenching effects and mechanisms of action amongst QQCs.
(iii) to investigate ecological aspects of the formation and activity of QQCs
(iv) to assess potential applications of QQCs.

抗生素耐药性在疾病防控领域广受重视，亦是推动新型细菌生长控制策略研发的关键动因之一。群体感应（Quorum Sensing, QS）是一类细菌细胞间通信过程，可依据种群细胞密度调控基因表达。受QS调控的细菌活动涵盖色素与毒素合成、生物发光、群集运动及生物被膜形成。群体淬灭（Quorum Quenching, QQ）化合物可抑制QS通路，具备调控有害细菌活动的潜力。目前已有多种QQ化合物从植物、藻类、真菌及细菌类群中分离得到。本项目旨在从海洋细菌中分离并表征QQ化合物，并探究该类化合物干扰群体感应的作用机制。
项目具体研究目标如下：
(i) 从海洋无脊椎动物及细菌中纯化并鉴定群体淬灭化合物（Quorum Quenching Compounds, QQCs）；
(ii) 评估不同QQCs的群体淬灭效应多样性及其作用机制；
(iii) 探究QQCs形成与活性的生态学特征；
(iv) 评估QQCs的潜在应用价值。