细菌群体感应参与铜绿假单胞菌胞内聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控

群体感应是细菌根据细胞密度变化调控基因表达的一种调节机制。铜绿假单胞菌中QS系统由lasI和rhlI合成的信号分子3OC12-HSL和C4-HSL以及各自的受体蛋白LasR、RhlR组成,它们以级联方式调控多个基因表达。【目的】研究细菌群体感应(QS)对聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控。【方法】利用铜绿假单胞菌PAO1及其QS突变株为材料通过气相色谱、荧光定量PCR在生理和分子水平上研究QS对聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控。【结果】QS信号分子合成抑制剂阿奇霉素处理铜绿假单胞菌PAO1和QS突变株导致胞内PHA积累量显著减少;铜绿假单胞菌PAO1中C4-HSL合成酶基因rhlI缺失突变株PAO210胞内PHA积累量与野生型无差别;而3OC12-HSL合成酶基因lasI缺失突变株PAO55、3OC12-HSL受体合成酶基因lasR缺失突变株PAO56以及lasI/lasR双缺失突变株PAO57胞内PHA含量与野生型相比明显减少;lasI和lasR的突变株体内PHA合成酶基因phaC1的表达量显著降低,信号分子3OC12-HSL回补实验使phaC1的表达量可恢复到野生株水平,但只可部分恢复lasI缺失导致的胞内PHA合成。【结论】由此推测,铜绿假单胞菌群体感应系统中lasI/lasR系统参与胞内聚羟基脂肪酸酯合成的调控。     

rpoS基因缺失突变对荧光假单胞菌胁迫耐受性、群体感应及腐败活性的影响

【目的】微生物活动是引起食品腐败的主要原因,研究食品腐败菌的腐败作用调控机制对于保证食品的质量和安全具有重要意义。荧光假单胞菌是一种代表性的食品腐败菌,本文旨在研究RNA聚合酶的选择性sigma因子Rpo S在荧光假单胞菌致腐败过程中的作用。【方法】运用同源重组的方法构建荧光假单胞菌冷藏鱼分离株的rpo S基因缺失突变株,比较野生型和突变株暴露于不同胁迫条件下的存活率;通过液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)分析野生型和突变株产生高丝氨酸内酯类(AHLs)群体感应信号分子的种类和含量;检测野生型和突变株接种于灭菌三文鱼汁后4°C贮存过程中的菌落总数和挥发性盐基氮的生成量。【结果】成功构建了荧光假单胞菌rpo S基因缺失突变株。rpo S基因的缺失导致荧光假单胞菌对10 mmol/L H2O2和15%乙醇的耐受性显著降低,对150μg/m L结晶紫和175 mmol/L醋酸的耐受性有一定程度增强,不影响其对47°C和20%Na Cl的耐受性。荧光假单胞菌在rpo S基因缺失突变后长链信号分子C_(10)-HSL、C_(12)-HSL和C_(14)-HSL的含量增加。在灭菌三文鱼汁中的腐败活性检测表明rpo S基因缺失可导致荧光假单胞菌挥发性盐基氮的生成量显著降低。【结论】荧光假单胞菌的Rpo S不仅调节细菌对多种胁迫条件的耐受性,还影响AHL群体感应和腐败活性。     

植物发酵液提取物对铜绿假单胞菌生物膜的作用

【目的】探讨植物发酵液提取物(plant fermentation extract,PFE)对铜绿假单胞菌生物膜的抑制作用,为临床上铜绿假单胞菌感染相关疾病的治疗提供参考。【方法】通过划线法分离临床标本中的铜绿假单胞菌并进行鉴定,通过报告菌株测定铜绿假单胞菌的毒力因子,采用试管法和激光共聚焦扫描显微镜测定生物膜的形成。【结果】在分离出的16株铜绿假单胞菌中,PFE对PA007菌株的作用效果最好,1%PFE显著降低PA007菌株生物膜、绿脓菌素和N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-HSL(3-oxo-C12-HSL)的产量(P0.05)。同时,也显著降低Las A蛋白酶的活性以及持留菌存活率(P0.05)。荧光定量PCR实验结果表明PFE能显著抑制las I和pqs A基因的表达(P0.05)。【结论】PFE具有抗铜绿假单胞菌感染能力,在临床上铜绿假单胞菌感染疾病的治疗中具有巨大的潜在价值。     

构建冻干无细胞生物传感器快速检测临床铜绿假单胞菌感染北大核心

【目的】铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa)是常见于医院感染的条件致病革兰氏阴性细菌,其群体感应信号3-氧代十二烷酰基高丝氨酸内酯(3-oxo-dodecanoyl-homoserine lactone,3OC12-HSL)可作为铜绿假单胞菌感染的生物标志物。本研究期望开发针对3OC12-HSL的冻干无细胞生物传感器,以实现临床铜绿假单胞菌感染的快速诊断。【方法】首先构建报告质粒以重建3OC12-HSL的应答过程,而后将该质粒加入冻干无细胞表达系统中以实现生物传感器的制备;接着利用梯度浓度的3OC12-HSL表征该传感器的灵敏度与动力学特征,并测试其底物特异性;最后通过临床样本测试验证其效果,并优化临床样本的预处理方法。【结果】本研究构建的冻干无细胞生物传感器能够在60 min内实现对临床呼吸道样本中铜绿假单胞菌感染的诊断,具有高灵敏度和高特异性。【结论】本研究构建了针对3OC12-HSL的冻干无细胞生物传感器,并借助RNase抑制蛋白预表达的策略提升了其对体液样本的耐受性,最终证明其具备开发成临床铜绿假单胞菌感染的快速检测方法的潜力。     

土壤中群体感应淬灭细菌的原位分离与筛选

【背景】许多革兰氏阴性细菌通常以N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯(N-acylhomoserine lactones,AHLs)作为群体感应主要的信号分子。【目的】从土壤中筛选和鉴定新型群体感应淬灭细菌。【方法】通过"垫圈法"从土壤中原位培养分离细菌,采用琼脂条法、报告菌平板法及β-半乳糖苷酶活性测定筛选群体感应淬灭细菌,根据16S rRNA基因序列同源性分析确定菌株系统发育地位。【结果】从不同地区土样中原位培养共分离获得细菌502株。以根癌土壤杆菌Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4 (pZLR4)作为报告菌,最终得到11株具有较强降解AHLs能力的细菌,包括假单胞菌5株、不动杆菌4株、变形杆菌和莱茵海默氏菌各1株。大部分细菌可完全降解N-3-羰基十二酰基高丝氨酸内酯(3OC12-HSL),部分细菌对N-(3-氧代己酰)高丝氨酸内酯(3OC6-HSL)和N-3-氧代辛酰高丝氨酸内酯(3OC8-HSL)具有一定降解活性。【结论】Proteus和Rheinheimera可降解AHLs,为今后防治依赖群体感应的植物细菌病害提供新型生防资源。     

铜绿假单胞菌和白假丝酵母的跨界相互作用

铜绿假单胞菌和白假丝酵母(又称白念珠菌)这两种条件致病菌可共存于人体。两者间存在复杂的相互关系,即跨界相互作用。铜绿假单胞菌抑制白念珠菌形态转换,抑制其生物膜形成并毒杀其菌丝;白念珠菌则抑制铜绿假单胞菌绿脓素形成并抑制其丛集运动。跨界相互作用可能存在3种机制:信号转导通路、生物膜和毒力因子。铜绿假单胞菌通过信号分子N-3-氧代十二烷酰-L-同型丝氨酸内酯(3-oxo-C12-HSL)抑制白念珠菌形态转换,而白念珠菌通过信号分子法呢醇抑制铜绿假单胞菌绿脓素生成和丛集运动,即存在信号分子介导的跨界相互作用。跨界相互作用影响铜绿假单胞菌和白念珠菌各自的致病性。如能充分利用跨界相互作用,将有助于优化治疗的选择。     

食源假单胞菌群体感应信号分子的研究

从市售鲜鱼中分离的3株革兰氏阴性菌,经16S rDNA鉴定为假单胞菌属,该菌是一种导致食品腐败的重要腐败细菌。N-酰基-高丝氨酸内酯(AHLs)是革兰氏阴性菌群体感应(QS)系统中一类重要的信号分子,以密度依赖的方式调控某些生理性状的表达。利用AHLs检测菌株对3株假单胞菌进行检测发现,均产生AHLs类信号分子,且FML05-1和FML05-2至少产生两种AHLs,主要的信号分子是N-3-氧代-辛酰基-高丝氨酸内酯(N- 3-oxo-C_8-HSL)。同时对菌株FML05-2在生长过程中所产生的AHLs的活性变化进行研究,发现AHLs活性在菌体生长至12h时达到最大。首次对食源假单胞菌所产生的AHLs进行了研究,为以干扰腐败细菌群体感应为靶点的食品防腐保鲜策略提供研究基础。     

内生菌Pseudomonas sp. G5 phzIR基因的克隆与表达

假单胞菌菌株G5是分离自香菜(Coriandrum sativumL.)茎内的一株内生菌,经BIOLOG系统分析其底物利用图谱,初步鉴定为桔黄假单胞菌Pseudomonas aurantiaca。大量研究已表明许多革兰氏阴性细菌应用群体感应系统,通过感应扩散性小信号分子―乙酰基高丝氨酸内酯(N-acyl homoserine lactones,AHLs),以种群密度依赖的方式调控基因表达,控制植物相关细菌的多种表型。本研究组合应用AHLs检测菌株Chromobacterium violaceum CV026和薄层层析分析,初步检测出菌株G5可产生几种可检测水平的AHLs信号分子,其中以N-hexanoyl-homoserine lactone(C6-HSL,HHL)为主,迁移率Rf值为0.4。进一步克隆和测序了该菌株中由PhzI和PhzR组成的群体感应quorumsensing系统的编码基因phzIR,并在大肠杆菌中异源表达了AHLs信号分子合成酶基因phzI。序列和系统进化分析表明它们与假单胞菌属其他的phzIR基因有高度同源性和进化上的保守性。     

活性污泥中群体感应淬灭菌的分离纯化及功能验证

【背景】近年来,群体感应淬灭(Quorum Quenching,QQ)技术在膜生物污堵防控中的应用研究受到了广泛关注。然而,目前已成功分离纯化的高效QQ菌有限,更多高效QQ菌资源亟待挖掘。【目的】从实际运行的膜生物反应器(MembraneBioreactor,MBR)活性污泥中采样,分离并富集高效QQ菌。【方法】以根瘤农杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens) A136为报告菌株,使用指示琼脂平板法测定各菌株的N-辛酰基高丝氨酸内酯(N-Octanoyl-DL-Homoserine Lactone,C8-HSL)降解能力。以紫色色杆菌(Chromobacterium violaceum) VIR24为报告菌株,定量测定所得QQ菌降解N-己酰高丝氨酸内酯(N-Hexanoyl-DL-Homoserine Lactone,C6-HSL)信号分子的能力。通过微生物形态、生理生化及16SrRNA基因序列测定、构建系统发育树、扫描电子显微镜形态观测等方法对菌株进行分类学鉴定。用共培养法分析QQ菌对生物膜形成的抑制能力,通过聚乙烯醇和海藻酸钠包埋固定化QQ菌。【结果】筛选出了6株高效QQ菌,其中对C8-HSL分解能力最强的为杆状、革兰氏阴性戴尔福特菌属(Delftia sp.) JL5。定量分析结果表明菌株JL5能在10 h内完全降解C6-HSL。菌株JL5显著抑制铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa) PAO1和菠萝泛菌(Pantoea ananatis) SK-1生物膜的形成。固定化后的JL5微球仍具有高效的C6-HSL和C8-HSL信号分子分解能力,而且分解速度较被广泛报道的红球菌(Rhodococcussp.)BH4更快。【结论】研究分离得到了高效的QQ菌,能够有效抑制N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯(N-Acyl-HomoserineLactones,AHL)型群体感应菌生物膜的形成,固定化后仍然具有强QQ活性,具备广泛的应用前景,为后续QQ膜生物污堵防控技术的实践应用奠定了基础。     

黄河鲤水产细菌的分离及其毒力因子和群体感应信号分子的检测

【背景】水产细菌病害制约水产养殖业健康发展,群体感应与细菌毒力因子的产生密切相关,群体感应调控细菌的毒力因子特性值得进一步研究。【目的】探究群体感应与黄河鲤细菌病害的关系,明确群体感应对细菌毒力因子特性的影响。【方法】通过16S rRNA基因测序并构建系统进化树确定筛选菌株的进化地位,通过脱脂牛奶平板法和偶氮酪蛋白法检测菌株胞外蛋白酶活力,采用结晶紫染色法对菌株的生物膜形成能力进行测定,通过报告菌株BB170和CV026分别测定菌株产信号分子AI-2和高丝氨酸内酯的能力,外源添加高丝氨酸内酯检测信号分子对菌株胞外蛋白酶活力和生物膜形成能力的影响。【结果】哈夫尼亚菌(Hafnia sp.) Z11和气单胞菌(Aeromonas sp.) Z12具有高水平的胞外蛋白酶活力和生物膜形成能力,能够分泌AHLs信号分子且具有菌体密度依赖性。外源添加HSL对菌株毒力因子特性有不同程度的影响,外源添加高浓度的N-丁酰基高丝氨酸内酯(C4-HSL)和N-己酰基高丝氨酸内酯(C6-HSL)能够分别提高菌株Z11和Z12的胞外蛋白酶活力和生物膜形成能力。【结论】高浓度群体感应信号分子AHLs对哈夫尼亚菌和气单胞菌胞外蛋白酶活性有促进作用,说明该2种菌的群体感应现象可能会影响其毒力。     

The interaction of N-acylhomoserine lactone quorum sensing signaling molecules with biological membranes: implications for inter-kingdom signaling

BACKGROUND: The long chain N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) quorum sensing signal molecules released by Pseudomonas aeruginosa have long been known to elicit immunomodulatory effects through a process termed inter-kingdom signaling. However, to date very little is known regarding the exact mechanism of action of these compounds on their eukaryotic targets. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The use of the membrane dipole fluorescent sensor di-8-ANEPPS to characterise the interactions of AHL quorum sensing signal molecules, N-(3-oxotetradecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C14-HSL), N-(3-oxododecanoyl)homoserine-L-lactone (3-oxo-C12-HSL) and N-(3-oxodecanoyl) homoserine-L-lactone (3-oxo-C10 HSL) produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa with model and cellular membranes is reported. The interactions of these AHLs with artificial membranes reveal that each of the compounds is capable of membrane interaction in the micromolar concentration range causing significant modulation of the membrane dipole potential. These interactions fit simple hyperbolic binding models with membrane affinity increasing with acyl chain length. Similar results were obtained with T-lymphocytes providing the evidence that AHLs are capable of direct interaction with the plasma membrane. 3-oxo-C12-HSL interacts with lymphocytes via a cooperative binding model therefore implying the existence of an AHL membrane receptor. The role of cholesterol in the interactions of AHLs with membranes, the significance of modulating cellular dipole potential for receptor conformation and the implications for immune modulation are discussed. CONCLUSIONS/ SIGNIFICANCE: Our observations support previous findings that increasing AHL lipophilicity increases the immunomodulatory activity of these quorum compounds, while providing evidence to suggest membrane interaction plays an important role in quorum sensing and implies a role for membrane microdomains in this process. Finally, our results suggest the existence of a eukaryotic membrane-located system that acts as an AHL receptor.     

凡纳滨对虾源不动杆菌群体感应信号分子分离鉴定及其调控

【目的】鉴定凡纳滨对虾源不动杆菌(Acinetobacter spp.M1)分泌的N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯(AHLs)类型,探究细菌生长阶段及环境因素对其分泌信号分子的影响。【方法】报告菌株平板法检测M1的AHLs的活性;采用报告平板与薄层层析(TLC)相结合法对M1分泌的AHLs类型进行鉴定。【结果】菌株M1分泌N-3-氧代-己酰基-高丝氨酸内酯和N-3-氧代-辛酰基-高丝氨酸内酯两种信号分子。在适宜条件下AHLs活性随着培养时间的延长先升高后降低,在对数末期(30 h)达到最大。弱酸和弱碱环境能够降低M1分泌AHLs的能力,p H 7.0是M1分泌AHLs的最适p H。较高浓度的Na Cl促进了个体M1分泌AHLs的能力,但是Na Cl浓度对M1总体分泌AHLs没有显著的影响。菌株M1分泌AHLs的最佳温度为30°C,温度过高或过低都会影响其分泌。【结论】菌株M1主要产生N-3-氧代-己酰基-高丝氨酸内酯和N-3-氧代-辛酰基-高丝氨酸内酯两种类型信号分子。M1的QS系统受菌体密度和环境因素的双重调控。     

A marine Mesorhizobium sp. produces structurally novel long-chain N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones

Our study focused on a Mesorhizobium sp. that is phylogenetically affiliated by 16S rRNA gene sequence to other marine and saline bacteria of this genus. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry investigations of the extract obtained from solid-phase extraction of cultures of this bacterium indicated the presence of several N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), with chain lengths of C(10) to C(16). Chromatographic separation of the active bacterial extract yielded extraordinarily large amounts of two unprecedented acylated homoserine lactones, 5-cis-3-oxo-C(12)-homoserine lactone (5-cis-3-oxo-C(12)-HSL) (compound 1) and 5-cis-C(12)-HSL (compound 2). Quorum-sensing activity of compounds 1 and 2 was shown in two different biosensor systems [Escherichia coli MT102(pSB403) and Pseudomonas putida F117(pKR-C12)]. Furthermore, it was shown that both compounds can restore protease and pyoverdin production of an AHL-deficient Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 lasI rhlI double mutant, suggesting that these signal molecules maybe used for intergenus signaling. In conclusion, these data indicate that the quorum-sensing activity of compounds 1 and 2 is modulated by the chain length and functional groups of the acyl moiety. Additionally, compound 1 showed antibacterial and cytotoxic activities.     

Quorum-sensing molecules: Sampling,identification and characterization of N-acyl-homoserine lactone in Vibrio sp

Quorum sensing (QS) is a mechanism by which gram-negative bacteria regulate their gene expression by making use of cell density. QS is triggered by a small molecule known as an autoinducer. Typically, gram-negative bacteria such as Vibrio produce signaling molecules called acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs). However, their levels are very low, making them difficult to detect. We used thin layer chromatography (TLC) to examine AHLs in different Vibrio species, such as Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio parahemolyticus, and Vibrio cholerae, against a standard- Chromobacterium violaceum. Further, AHLs were characterised by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). C4-HSL (N- butanoyl- L- homoserine lactone), C6-HSL (N- hexanoyl- L- homoserine lactone), 3-oxo-C8-HSL (N-(3-Oxooctanoyl)-DL-homoserine lactone), C8-HSL (N- octanoyl- L- homoserine lactone), C₁10-HSL (N- decanoyl- L- homoserine lactone), C12-HSL (N- dodecanoyl- L- homoserine lactone) and C14-HSL (N- tetradecanoyl- L- homoserine lactone) were identified from Vibrio. These results may provide a basis for blocking the AHL molecules of Vibrio, thereby reducing their pathogenicity and eliminating the need for antimicrobials.     

Unusual long-chain N-acyl homoserine lactone production by and presence of quorum quenching activity in bacterial isolates from diseased tilapia fish

Growth-dependent cell-cell communication termed quorum sensing is a key regulatory system in bacteria for controlling gene expression including virulence factors. In this study five potential bacterial pathogens including Bacillus sp. W2.2, Klebsiella sp. W4.2, Pseudomonas sp. W3 and W3.1 and Serratia sp. W2.3 were isolated from diseased Tilapia fish in Malaysia, supplied by the leading global fish supplier. Proteolytic activity assays confirmed that with the exception of Klebsiella sp. W4.2, all isolates showed distinct proteolytic activity. Furthermore Bacillus sp. W2.2 and Pseudomonas sp. strains W3 and W3.1 also displayed haemolytic activity. By using high resolution liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, we revealed the presence of unusually long-chain N-(3-oxohexadecanoyl)-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C16-HSL) from Pseudomonas sp. W3.1 and N-dodecanoyl-homoserine lactone (C12-HSL) from Serratia sp. W2.3, respectively. Interestingly, Pseudomonas sp. W3.1 also produced a wide range of Pseudomonas quinolone signalling (PQS) molecules. Pseudomonas sp. W3 did not show any quorum sensing properties but possessed quorum quenching activity that inactivated AHLs. This study is the first documentation that shows unusual long-chain AHLs production in Serratia sp. and Pseudomonas sp. isolated from diseased fish and the latter also produce a wide range of PQS molecules.     

Profiling of acylated homoserine lactones of Vibrio anguillarum in vitro and in vivo: Influence of growth conditions and serotype

Vibrio anguillarum produces several interlinked acylated homoserine lactone (AHL) signal molecules which may influence expression of its virulence factors such as exoprotease production and biofilm formation. Using both thin layer chromatography and HPLC-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS), we demonstrate in this study that the same types of AHLs are produced by many serotypes of V. anguillarum and that altering in vitro growth conditions (salinity, temperature and iron concentration) has little influence on the AHL-profile. Most strains produced N-(3-oxodecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C10-HSL) and N-(3-hydroxy-hexanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (3-hydroxy-C6-HSL) as the dominant molecules. Also, two spots with AHL activity appeared on TLC plates, which could not be identified as AHL structures. Trace amounts of N-(3-hydroxy-octanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone, N-(3-hydroxy-decanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone and N-(3-hydroxy-dodecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (3-hydroxy-C8-HSL, 3-hydroxy-C10-HSL and 3-oxo-C12-HSL, respectively) were also detected by HPLC-HRMS analysis from in vitro cultures. Most studies of quorum sensing (QS) systems have been conducted in vitro, the purpose of our study was to determine if the same acylated homoserine lactones were produced in vivo during infection. Extracts from infected fish were purified using several solid phase extraction strategies to allow chromatographic detection and separation by both TLC and HLPC-HRMS. 3-oxo-C10-HSL and 3-hydroxy-C6-HSL were detected in organs from fish dying from vibriosis, however, compared to in vitro culturing where 3-oxo-C10-HSL is the dominant molecule, 3-hydroxy-C6-HSL was prominent in the infected fish tissues. Hence, the balance between the QS systems may be different during infection compared to in vitro cultures. For future studies of QS systems and the possible specific interference with expression of virulence factors, in vitro cultures should be optimised to reflect the in vivo situation.     

Profiling acylated homoserine lactones in Yersinia ruckeri and influence of exogenous acyl homoserine lactones and known quorum-sensing inhibitors on protease production

AIMS: To profile the quorum-sensing (QS) signals in Yersinia ruckeri and to examine the possible regulatory link between QS signals and a typical QS-regulated virulence phenotype, a protease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) showed that Y. ruckeri produced at least eight different acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs) with N-(3-oxooctanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C8-HSL) being the dominant molecule. Also, some uncommon AHL, N-(3-oxoheptanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C7-HSL) and N-(3-oxononanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C9-HSL), were produced. 3-oxo-C8-HSL was detected in organs from fish infected with Y. ruckeri. Protease production was significantly lower at temperatures above 23 degrees C than below although growth was faster at the higher temperatures. Neither addition of sterile filtered high-density Y. ruckeri culture supernatant nor the addition of pure exogenous AHLs induced protease production. Furthermore, three QS inhibitors (QSIs), sulfur-containing AHL analogues, did not inhibit protease production in Y. ruckeri. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous AHL or sulfur-containing AHL analogues did not influence the protease production indicating that protease production may not be QS regulated in Y. ruckeri. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The array of different AHLs produced indicates that the QS system of Y. ruckeri is complex and could involve several regulatory systems. In this case, neither AHLs nor QSI would be likely to directly affect a QS-regulated phenotype.