Table 1.
Quorum sensing systems and quorum sensing-virulence associated phenotypes in the reviewed organisms
| Organism | QS systems | Regulated phenotypes |
| Gram (-) bacteria | ||
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | (1) LasI (S)-LasR (R)-HSL (s) | Expression of several virulence factors including: Pyocyanin, pyoverdine, elastase, alkaline protease, HCN, rhamnolipids and biofilm formation |
| (2) HSL RhlI-RhlR | ||
| (3) Alkyl quinolones (PQS) | ||
| Vibrio harveyi | (1) LuxM (S)-LuxN (R)- 3OHC4HSL (s) | Expression of bioluminescence genes and several virulence factors including: Siderophores, protease, EPS production |
| (2) LuxS (S)-LuxP (R)-AI-2 (s) | ||
| (3) CqsA (S)-CqsS (R)-CAI-1 (s) | ||
| Vibrio cholerae | (1) LuxS (S)-LuxP (R)-AI-2 (s) (2) CqsA (S)-CqsS (R)-CAI-1 (s) | Expression of several virulence factors including: Biofilm formation and EPS production. |
| Vibrio fischeri | (1) LuxI (S)-LuxR (R)-3OC6HSL (s) | Expression of bioluminescence, host colonization and motility genes |
| (2) AinS (S)-AinR (R)-C8HSL (s) | ||
| (3) LuxS (S)-LuxP (R)-AI-2 (s) | ||
| Acinetobacter spp | (1) Abal (S)-AbaR (R)-3OHC12HSL (s) | Expression of virulence factors including biofilm formation. |
| Burkhordelia cepacea | (1) Cep1 (S)-CepR (R)-C8HSL,C6HSL (s) | Expression of swarm motility genes and several virulence factors including: proteases, siderophores, toxins, antifungal agents and biofilm formation |
| (2) Ccil (S)-CciR (R)-C8HSL,C6HSL (s) | ||
| Escherichia coli Salmonella typhimurium | (1) Unknown (S)-SdiA (R)-3OC8HSL (s) (2) LuxS (S)-LsrB (R)-AI-2 (s) (3) Unknown (S)-QseC (R)-AI-3 (s) | Expression of motility genes, acid resistance and virulence factors including biofilm formation |
| Gram (+) bacteria | ||
| Staphylococcus aureus | (1)AgrB (S)-AgrC (R)-AIP(s) | Expression of several virulence factors including: hemolysins, leukocidins, cell surface adhesins, exoenzymes, and biofilm formation |
| Fungi | ||
| Candida albicans | 2-phenylethanol, tryptophol, farnesol, farnesoic acid, and tyrosol as (s) | Fungal dimorphism, biofilm formation and expression of virulence genes |
| Mucor rouxii, Histoplasma capsulatum, Ceratocystis ulmi | QS (s) unknown | Fungal dimorphism |
| Saccharomyces cerevisiae | Phenylethanol and tryptophol as (s) | Transition from yeast to filamentous form |
| Protozoa | ||
| Trypanosoma cruzi | SIF soluble factor as (s) | Differentiation of replicating to non-dividing forms |
| Mammal cells | ||
| CD4+T cells | IL-2 (s) and IL-2Rα (R) | Regulation of the CD4+T cells population |
| Cancer cells | Multiple (S) and (R) and paracrine factors as (s) | Regulation of the metastatic process |
IL-2: Interleukin 2; SIF: Soluble inhibitory factor; QS: Quorum sensing; PQS: Pseudomonas quinolone signal; EPS: Exopolysaccharide.