Method for accessing microbial diversity

Abstract

A method of interfering with quorum sensing regulation of genes to promote cell growth is disclosed. The method of is aimed at accessing microbial biodiversity. The method involves obtaining an environmental sample comprising at least one novel (uncultivated in the laboratory) microorganism, contacting the environmental sample with an effective amount of an agent or combination of agents which interferes with the quorum sensing regulation of genes, growing the treated sample in a culture medium containing the quorum sensing signal disrupting agent or agents, and analyzing the colonies of microorganisms grown to demonstrate genetic novelty.

1 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for isolating a novel bacterium in a sample, comprising:
 (a) treating the sample with an effective amount of an agent, wherein the agent interferes with, disrupts, removes, or disenables a quorum sensing signal in the sample;   (b) growing the treated sample in a culture medium containing the agent;   (c) isolating colonies of bacteria from the sample grown in step (b); and   (d) analyzing the colonies to identify a bacterium having genetic novelty minimally at the species or subspecies level.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the agent inhibits Type 1 quorum sensing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the agent is an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction with the acyl homoserine lactone autoinducer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of esterase, aminoacylase, carboxypeptidase, lipase, lactonase, peptidase and protease. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the agent is a chemical that inhibits binding of the acyl homoserine lactone autoinducer to its receptor. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the agent is a chemical that inhibits biosynthesis of the acyl homoserine lactone autoinducer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the agent inhibits Type 2 quorum sensing. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the agent is an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction with the Type 2 quorum sensing autoinducer. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the agent is a chemical that inhibits binding of the Type 2 quorum sensing autoinducer to its receptor. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the agent is a chemical that inhibits biosynthesis of the Type 2 quorum sensing autoinducer. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the agent inhibits peptide regulated quorum sensing. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the agent is an enzyme that catalyzes a reaction with the peptide autoinducer. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of peptidase, deaminase and protease. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the agent is a chemical that inhibits the binding of the peptide autoinducer to its receptor. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the agent is a chemical that inhibits the biosynthesis of the peptide autoinducer. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the agent is an antibody to the peptide autoinducer. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the agent is a physical device for keeping the concentration of a quorum sensing autoinducer below a threshold concentration required for a quorum sensing response in the sample. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the sample is obtained from a human subject.