Transcriptomic responses of Vibrio campbellii to quorum sensing inhibition and antibiotic stress

Abstract

Quorum sensing (QS) is a key regulatory system in Vibrio campbellii that modulates virulence and communal behaviours. This study investigated the early transcriptional responses to a quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI) and tetracycline using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Following one hour of exposure, 130 and 539 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified under QSI and tetracycline treatments, respectively. Quorum sensing inhibitory activities leading to upregulation of sulfur and porphyrin metabolism genes and downregulation of transporters and QS-related pathways, while tetracycline exposure induced genes related to ribosomal activity, DNA replication, and stress responses. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses revealed distinct pathway regulatory patterns, including in quorum sensing, two-component systems, and biofilm formation. These results highlight the mechanistic distinctions in bacterial response to quorum sensing interference versus antibiotic stress, emphasizing the potential of QSIs as precision anti-virulence agents that modulate pathogenic behaviour while minimizing the selective pressure associated with conventional antibiotics.