Antibiotic resistance is of enormous concern in disease control and is one of the factors driving the search for new strategies for controlling bacterial growth. Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial communication process that allows control of gene expression in relation to cell density. Bacterial activities under QS control include the production of pigments and toxins, bioluminescence, swarming motility and biofilm formation. Quorum quenching (QQ) compounds inhibit the QS process, with the potential to control detrimental bacterial activities. QQ compounds have been isolated from several plants, algae, fungi and several bacteria. The aim of the project was to isolate and characterise QQ compounds from marine bacteria and investigating the mechanism by which the compound interferes with quorum sensing.

Objectives of project were:

(i) to purify and identify quorum quenching compounds (QQCs) from marine invertebrates and bacteria; (ii) to assess the diversity of quorum quenching effects and mechanisms of action amongst QQCs. (iii) to investigate ecological aspects of the formation and activity of QQCs (iv) to assess potential applications of QQCs.