Application of nanoparticles as quorum quenching agent against bacterial human pathogens: a prospective therapeutic nanoweapon (Chapter 11)

Abstract

Bacteria communicate by producing signaling molecules called autoinducers by a mechanism called Quorum sensing (QS). QS in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria control their gene expression, thereby coordinating their behavior in a cell-density-dependent manner. In bacterial human pathogens, QS synchronizes gene expression and gene regulation that promotes multidrug resistance and virulence. Growth of bacterial pathogens can be inhibited or controlled by a quorum sensing inhibition strategy also called quorum quenching (QQ). In recent years, owing to their unique properties, nanoparticles have found application as quorum quenchers against human pathogenic bacteria. The major problem with the use of antibiotics is the development of resistance to them by bacterial pathogens. Thus, utilization of nanoparticles as quorum quenchers serves as an efficient alternative since the incidence of resistance development toward nanoparticles is negligible and therefore has tremendous potential to be used as therapeutic nanoweapons.