Silent signals: how N-acyl homoserine lactones drive oral microbial behaviour and health outcomes

BackgroundN-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) are small signalling molecules predominantly secreted in Gram-negative bacteria.ObjectiveThe aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of AHLs in oral health.MethodsTwo independent researchers conducted a systematic search of English language publications...

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Main Authors: Zelda Ziyi Zhao, Lifeng Guo, Wenwen Shan, Chun Hung Chu, Jing Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Oral Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2024.1484005/full
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author Zelda Ziyi Zhao
Lifeng Guo
Wenwen Shan
Chun Hung Chu
Jing Zhang
Jing Zhang
author_facet Zelda Ziyi Zhao
Lifeng Guo
Wenwen Shan
Chun Hung Chu
Jing Zhang
Jing Zhang
author_sort Zelda Ziyi Zhao
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundN-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) are small signalling molecules predominantly secreted in Gram-negative bacteria.ObjectiveThe aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of AHLs in oral health.MethodsTwo independent researchers conducted a systematic search of English language publications up to 30 June 2024 in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. They screened the title and abstract to retrieve and map out relevant studies on AHLs in oral health, in order to identify key concepts, gaps in knowledge, and areas for further research.ResultsThis study identified 127 articles and included 42 articles. These studies identified AHLs in human oral samples like saliva, dental plaque, tongue swabs, and dentin caries. The studies also found that AHLs regulate cell-to-cell communication of bacteria (quorum sensing) in mature biofilm fostering the production of virulence factors that damage the immune system. AHLs also exert biological effects on human cells and influence oral diseases such as periodontitis and oral squamous carcinoma. Researchers developed AHL inhibitors to interfere with the quorum sensing process and interrupt the communication between bacteria. These inhibitors can be classified into three main categories based on their mechanisms of action to AHLs: AHL synthesis disruptors, AHL competitive inhibitors and AHL enzymatic degraders. These AHL inhibitors can be important tools in the fight against bacterial infections, particularly those caused by Gram-negative bacteria.ConclusionThe literatures indicate that AHLs, as quorum sensing molecules, influence bacterial communication. AHLs have a significant impact in bacterial pathogencity and play a potential role in the pathogenesis of oral diseases. Researchers have developed AHL inhibitors to disrupt bacterial quorum sensing, preventing bacteria from forming biofilms or expressing virulence factors. These studies on AHLs represent a new research direction to develop novel therapeutic strategies to manage oral diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-f53ac1312d7a4e2db6a73f3d2b2609652024-12-05T06:28:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oral Health2673-48422024-12-01510.3389/froh.2024.14840051484005Silent signals: how N-acyl homoserine lactones drive oral microbial behaviour and health outcomesZelda Ziyi Zhao0Lifeng Guo1Wenwen Shan2Chun Hung Chu3Jing Zhang4Jing Zhang5Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaCollege & Hospital of Stomatology, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, ChinaCollege & Hospital of Stomatology, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, ChinaFaculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaFaculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaCollege & Hospital of Stomatology, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, ChinaBackgroundN-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) are small signalling molecules predominantly secreted in Gram-negative bacteria.ObjectiveThe aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of AHLs in oral health.MethodsTwo independent researchers conducted a systematic search of English language publications up to 30 June 2024 in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. They screened the title and abstract to retrieve and map out relevant studies on AHLs in oral health, in order to identify key concepts, gaps in knowledge, and areas for further research.ResultsThis study identified 127 articles and included 42 articles. These studies identified AHLs in human oral samples like saliva, dental plaque, tongue swabs, and dentin caries. The studies also found that AHLs regulate cell-to-cell communication of bacteria (quorum sensing) in mature biofilm fostering the production of virulence factors that damage the immune system. AHLs also exert biological effects on human cells and influence oral diseases such as periodontitis and oral squamous carcinoma. Researchers developed AHL inhibitors to interfere with the quorum sensing process and interrupt the communication between bacteria. These inhibitors can be classified into three main categories based on their mechanisms of action to AHLs: AHL synthesis disruptors, AHL competitive inhibitors and AHL enzymatic degraders. These AHL inhibitors can be important tools in the fight against bacterial infections, particularly those caused by Gram-negative bacteria.ConclusionThe literatures indicate that AHLs, as quorum sensing molecules, influence bacterial communication. AHLs have a significant impact in bacterial pathogencity and play a potential role in the pathogenesis of oral diseases. Researchers have developed AHL inhibitors to disrupt bacterial quorum sensing, preventing bacteria from forming biofilms or expressing virulence factors. These studies on AHLs represent a new research direction to develop novel therapeutic strategies to manage oral diseases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2024.1484005/fullacyl-homoserine lactonesquorum sensingmicrobial interactionbiofilmoral healthquorum quenching acyl-homoserine lactones
spellingShingle Zelda Ziyi Zhao
Lifeng Guo
Wenwen Shan
Chun Hung Chu
Jing Zhang
Jing Zhang
Silent signals: how N-acyl homoserine lactones drive oral microbial behaviour and health outcomes
Frontiers in Oral Health
acyl-homoserine lactones
quorum sensing
microbial interaction
biofilm
oral health
quorum quenching acyl-homoserine lactones
title Silent signals: how N-acyl homoserine lactones drive oral microbial behaviour and health outcomes
title_full Silent signals: how N-acyl homoserine lactones drive oral microbial behaviour and health outcomes
title_fullStr Silent signals: how N-acyl homoserine lactones drive oral microbial behaviour and health outcomes
title_full_unstemmed Silent signals: how N-acyl homoserine lactones drive oral microbial behaviour and health outcomes
title_short Silent signals: how N-acyl homoserine lactones drive oral microbial behaviour and health outcomes
title_sort silent signals how n acyl homoserine lactones drive oral microbial behaviour and health outcomes
topic acyl-homoserine lactones
quorum sensing
microbial interaction
biofilm
oral health
quorum quenching acyl-homoserine lactones
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/froh.2024.1484005/full
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