A Stenotrophomonas maltophilia TetR-Like Transcriptional Regulator Involved in Fatty Acid Metabolism Is Controlled by Quorum Sensing Signals
Xavier Coves, Marc Bravo, Pol Huedo, Oscar Conchillo‐Solé, Andromeda-Celeste Gómez, Anna Esteve‐Codina, Marc Dabad, Marta Gut, Xavier Daura, Daniel Yero, Isidre Gibert
Abstract
The quorum sensing system in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, in addition to coordinating the bacterial population, controls virulence-associated phenotypes, such as biofilm formation, motility, protease production, and antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Biofilm formation is frequently associated with the persistence and chronic nature of nosocomial infections. In addition, biofilms exhibit high resistance to antibiotics, making treatment of these infections extremely difficult. The importance of studying the metabolic and regulatory systems controlled by quorum sensing autoinducers will make it possible to discover new targets to control pathogenicity mechanisms in S. maltophilia.