Novel super-regulators of quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Quorum sensing (QS) systems are a vital network in Pseudomonas aeruginosa for regulating cell to cell communication. Many of this bacterial virulence factors are controlled by or associated with QS. As QS system may directly regulate up to 10% genes of P. aeruginosa, this system is of fundamental importance in bacterial physiology and pathogenesis. However, it is still unclear how the QS genes regulate their targets and how QS circuits are modulated by other regulators. Here, we review how a series of recently identified critical regulators, named “super-regulators” in P. aeruginosa, participate in QS signaling to modulate the expression of its effectors.