Communication systems in the genus Burkholderia: global regulators and targets for novel antipathogenic drugs.

The genus Burkholderia not only contains the primary pathogens Burkholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei but also several species that have emerged as opportunistic pathogens in persons suffering from cystic fibrosis or chronic granulomatous disease and immunocompromised individuals. Burkholderia species utilize quorum-sensing (QS) systems that rely on N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signal molecules to express virulence factors and other functions in a population-density-dependent manner. Most Burkholderia species employ the CepIR QS system, which relies on N-octanoyl-homoserine lactone. However, some strains harbour multiple QS systems and produce numerous AHLs. QS systems have been demonstrated to be essential for full virulence in various infection models and, thus, these regulatory systems represent attractive targets for the development of novel therapeutics.