By Sachi Lagwankar Quorum Sensing

process of bacterial cells “talking” to each other in order to be informed of the population density in its vicinity Bacteria can only act on the host cell when the impact of the process is at its maximum Mutants (change signaling patterns) use QS in order to attack. used commonly when starting infections in organisms. What is QS?

Oligopeptide signal Gram positive bacteria Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS; 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone) Gram negative bacteria Autoinducers

Chemical molecular signals gram negative bacteria: acylated homoserine lactones (AHL) Gram positive bacteria: oligo-peptides What are Autoinducers?

only way mutants know how to communicate scientists are trying to find a way to inhibit this so that mutants don't take over host cells. Importance

sticky layer of polymers that microorganisms secrete and stick to one another on all surfaces Controlled by AI 2 Common in people, though they can cause illness Biofilm

Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) is resistant to the two most commonly used antibiotics for TB- isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RIF). This means that people who get TB are unable to be cured using these antimicrobials. “tame” bacteria, and not to kill them Antibiotics

Paul Williams: generate a drug that can search and take out bacteria and that will prevent them from doing damage to the host cell. Option 1

Geoff Watts: stop bacteria from sending signals, eliminate infections Option 2

Peter Greenberg: encourage mutants to dominate fatal wounds and they do better and do not use quorum sensing and are less virulent Option 3

Steve Diggle: experiment- add mutants to the potential fatal wounds already infected with the virulent bacteria, those wounds actually did better. Option 4

Alan Smyth: a natural quorum sensing inhibitor is to use extracts of plants like garlic extract Option 5

the immune system take over the virus before it attacks the host cell and infects it. when mutants send signal, cell makes protein to be released out of cell confuse the mutant into thinking there are more of it. when the mutant attacks, the human cell will use its immune system to kill the mutant. Design Goal

Design:

Truth Table Pseudomonas aeruginosa Using DesignIllness

idea of how quorum sensing can be used to prevent illness in humans. this is designed to help humans and prevent them from getting illnesses. Ethics

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