Quorum Sensing (QS) is a bacterial cell-to-cell communication system that allows individual cells to sense their local population density and coordinate synchronized gene expression through production of acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL). QS is known to be important for pathogenicity, bioluminescence, biofilm formation, and antibiotic synthesis. The objective of this study was to assess the potential for nanoparticles to disrupt QS through the interception of AHL signal. The bacterial model was Chromobacterium violaceum, a species that produces a purple pigment linked to QS. To remove artifact from endogenous production of the AHL, a mutant strain of C. violaceum that is unable to produce its own signaling molecule was utilized. Two, model engineered nanomaterials (ENM) were assessed; TiO2 and MW-carbon nanotubes (MW-CNT). Adsorption isotherms were generated for AHL on each ENP. The results reveal that AHL adsorbed to both MW-CNT and TiO2 and disrupted pigment production by C. violaceum. The degree of disruption was inversely dependent on the concentration of ENM. Overall the results show that ENM may be utilized to disrupt quorum sensing and suggest biotechnologies for managing quorum sensing in health-care and environmental applications.

Disruption of quorum sensing by adsorption of acyl-homoserine lactone to engineered nanomaterials

249th National Meeting (2015)

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