Today’s cyclodextrin paper by CarboHyde CSO Milo Malanga PhD, in collaboration with former colleagues from Cyclolab R&D Ltd. and Budapest University of Technology and Economics, sheds light on the potential of cyclodextrins to inhibit bacterial communication through quorum sensing.
Quorum sensing is vital for bacteria to coordinate activities, but inhibiting this process can be a game-changer in combating bacterial infectivity. Cyclodextrins encapsulate signal molecules, disrupting bacterial communication and, consequently, the expression of virulence factors.
Excitingly, our research shows that cyclodextrins exhibit a notable inhibitory effect on the quorum-sensing system of A. fischeri. The impact varies with alkyl chain length, with alkylthio substitution amplifying inhibition and quaternary ammonium groups mitigating it. These findings highlight cyclodextrins’ potential as a promising therapeutic avenue for treating bacterial infections.
