Researchers Discover Key Molecule to Improve Cystic Fibrosis Treatment

The researchers found that some of the harmful particles that the quorum-sensing inhibitors could affect were controlled by lasR, a quorum-sensing gene. Émilie Maillé is a research assistant for Brocherio within his laboratory, as well as the lead author of the study. She explains, "during the disease, this bacterial gene mutates and the gene mutates and the production of harmful products varies. Our work confirms that different bacterial strains, depending on whether they come from acute infections - especially in young patients - or chronic infections - especially in older patients - affect treatment efficacy in different ways."