I don't think 'primers' can detect quorum sensing. Primers are made of DNA and are used to amplify genes in the bacterial genome. You could amplify genes of proteins involved in quorum sensing. But, if you want to detect bacteria that are quorum sensing with AHL (homoserine lactone) then primers are probably not the way to go. 

If you want to sense AHL in bacterial culture, you should use one of the several detection methods. People use mass spec, and cell reporter assays.  

http://aem.asm.org/content/74/12/3667.full

There are several papers that describe ways to detect AHL, but none of them use primers. 

Thank you!

Since your question is still open, you may want to add some details on the specific AHLs (HSLs) you are interested. The HSL classes involve quite a number these days and only the P. aeruginosa system is well characterized. I would not rule out your request for “primers” and I am again guessing you meant routine PCR, as valid. Indeed PCR may be used for HSL determination but one would usually employ qPCR be more definitive. For example in the P. aeruginosa if you run a qPCR for LasI and LasR (using a baseline gene off course), you will derive a highly sensitive information of the quantitative expression of the HSL, N-3-oxo dodecanoyl-L-homoserinelactone. The primers and PCR conditions are available online, but we will be happy to help.

Therefore, PCR may very well be used for studying QS expression but restricted to specific related genes. However if one would need a truly unbiased, global approach for HSL detection (please note nearly all HSL reporter strains and sensitive to specific classes and not ALL HSLs), one would choose LCMS (Cataldi et al. 2008) or LDI-MS (Ghosh et al. 2012) . If you have either of these technologies available, you can detect nano-molar levels of a-n-y HSL of choice, irrespective of their classes or bacteria . Hope this helps!

Suggested reference:

1. Cataldi, T. R., et al. (2008). "Profiling of N‐acyl‐homoserine lactones by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization and a hybrid quadrupole linear ion‐trap and Fourier‐transform ion‐cyclotron‐resonance mass spectrometry (LC‐ESI‐LTQ‐FTICR‐MS)." Journal of mass spectrometry 43(1): 82-96.

2. Ghosh, D., et al. (2012). Selective Detection and Analysis of Small Molecules, Google Patents. EP2676287B1

Thank you very much. I have already some genes in mind (and corresponding primers), but will have a look to these ones.

Kind regards,

Laura

I would add if any of you know of a paper that has developed "generic" primers that could be used to amplify/detect luxR/luxI homologues from environmental samples. If that´s the case, could you please share. Thanks

Hi,

Below attached paper gives a detailed review about various reporter strains and references that might help. Regards

Article Detection of Quorum-Sensing N-Acyl Homoserine Lactone Signal...

AHL is a QS molecule and its production is being controlled by various genes depending on the species of bacteria such as rhII in Pseudo...and LuxR...in other species

so first need to know which bacteria you are targeting...would appreciate if you question is more concern with species of bacteria

Laura Duran Suja

Have you cloned any gene. I have also isolated number of bacteria which are positive for AHL production and I also have got LC-MS data. I am interested to clone and express the gene resonsible for those AHLS. SO kindly let me know what primers I need to use .

Aslam