Quorum Sensing

This detailed volume provides scientists interested in quorum sensing with a broad spectrum of methods and protocols useful for studying bacterial communication processes at the chemico-physical, molecular, and physiological level. Divided into three sections, the content covers detection and quantification of quorum sensing signal molecules, methods for the studying of quorum sensing at the molecular, physiological, and population level, as well as identification and characterization of anti-quorum sensing agents. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and cutting-edge, Quorum Sensing: Methods and Protocols serves as a comprehensive guide to the most important methodology currently available in the field.

Part I: Detection and Quantification of Quorum Sensing Signal Molecules

1. Use of Whole Cell Bioassays for Screening Quorum Signaling, Quorum-Interference, and Biofilm Dispersion

            Starla G. Thornhill and Robert J.C. McLean

2. Detection of 2-Alkyl-4-Quinolones Using Biosensors

            Matthew P. Fletcher, Stephen P. Diggle, Miguel Cámara, and Paul Williams

3. "Hot Stuff": The Many Uses of a Radiolabel Assay in Detecting Acyl-Homoserine Lactone Quorum Sensing Signals

            Amy L. Schaefer, Caroline S. Harwood, and E. Peter Greenberg

4. Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS) for the Detection and Quantification of -Acyl-L-Homoserine Lactones (AHLs) and 4-Hydroxy-2-Alkylquinolines (HAQs)

            François Lépine, Sylvain Milot, Marie-Christine Groleau, and Eric Déziel

5. Detection of the Bacterial Quorum Sensing Signaling Molecules N-Acyl Homoserine Lactones (HSL) and N-Acyl-Homoserine (HS) with an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and via Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS)

            Michael Rothballer, Jenny Uhl, Josie Kunze, Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin, and Anton Hartmann

6. Biosensors for the Detection and Quantification of AI-2 Class Quorum Sensing Compounds

7. Detection of Agr-Type Autoinducing Peptides Produced by Staphylococcus aureus

            Ewan J. Murray and Paul Williams

8. Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry for the Detection and Quantification of Diffusible Signal Factor (DSF)-Family Quorum Sensing Signals

            Lian Zhou, Shuang Sun, Wei Zhang, and Ya-Wen He

9. Rapid Electrochemical Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Signaling Molecules by Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode

            Alyah Buzid, John H.T. Luong, F. Jerry Reen, Fergal O'Gara, Jeremy D. Glennon, and Gerard P. McGlacken

10. Detection and Quantification of Butyrolactones from Streptomyces

            Marc Biarnes-Carrera, Rainer Breitling, and Eriko Takano

11. Fluorescence Quenching Studies of Gamma-Butyrolactone Binding Protein (CprB) from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

            Jessy Mariam and Ruchi Anand

12. Methods to Study Solo/Orphan Quorum Sensing Receptors

13. Enzymatic Assays to Investigate Acyl-Homoserine Lactone Autoinducer Synthases

            Daniel Shin and Rajesh Nagarajan

14. Global Expression Analysis of Quorum Sensing-Controlled Genes by RNAseq

            Charlotte D. Majerczyk

15. Identification of AHL- and BDSF-Controlled Proteins in Burkholderia cenocepacia by Proteomics

            Yilei Liu, Gabriella Pessi, Katharina Riedel, and Leo Eberl

16. Imaging N-Acyl Homoserine Lactone Quorum Sensing In Vivo

            Louise Dahl Hultqvist, Maria Alhede, Tim Holm Jakobsen, Michael Givskov, and Thomas Bjarnsholt

17. Assessing Pseudomonas aeruginosa Autoinducer Effects on Mammalian Epithelial Cells

18. Animal Models for Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing Studies

            Damien Maura, Arunava Bandyopadhaya, and Laurence G. Rahme

19. Methods to Study Quorum Sensing-Dependent Virulence and Movement of Phytopathogens In Planta

            Shulamit Manulis-Sasson and Laura Chalupowicz

20. Differential Equations Models to Study Quorum Sensing

Part III: Identification and Characterization of Anti-Quorum Sensing Agents

21. Qualitative and Quantitative Determination of Quorum Sensing Inhibition In Vitro

            Tim Holm Jakobsen, Maria Alhede, Louise Dahl Hultqvist, Thomas Bjarnsholt, and Michael Givskov

22. A Co-Culture-Based Approach for Screening Campaigns Aimed at Identifying Novel Pseudomonas aeruginosa Quorum Sensing Inhibitors

            Giordano Rampioni, Giulia Giallonardi, Francesca D'Angelo, and Livia Leoni

23. A Culture-Dependent Method for the Identification of Quorum Quenching Enzymes of Microbial Origin

            Kaihao Tang and Xiao-Hua Zhang

24. Directed Evolution of Quorum Quenching Enzymes: A Method for the Construction of a Directed Evolution Platform and Characterization of a Quorum-Quenching Lactonase from Geobacillus kaustophilus

25. Generation of High-Sensitivity Monoclonal Antibodies Specific for Homoserine Lactones

            Soumya Palliyil

26. Identification of AI-2 Quorum Sensing Inhibitors in Vibrio harveyi through Structure-Based Virtual Screening

27. Identification of Staphylococcal Quorum Sensing Inhibitors by Quantification of o-Hemolysin with High Performance Liquid Chromatography

            Cassandra L. Quave and Alexander R. Horswill