Abstract: Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) is a process in which bacteria conduct chemical communication through the production, release, accumulation and induction of signaling molecules called autoinducers (AI). Aeromonas is a common spoilage bacterium in aquatic products, and also a conditional pathogenic bacterium in animals and humans. In recent years, studies have reported that the pathogenicity and spoilage behavior of Aeromonas may be related to QS, suggesting that it can be prevented and controlled by inhibiting the QS. Aeromonas has three QS systems including AI-1 system with N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) as signaling molecules, AI-2 system with 4,5-dihydroxy 2,3-pentanedione (DPD) derivatives as signaling molecules and AI-3 system regulated by QseBC. This paper introduces these three QS systems and their regulation mechanisms in detail. Furthermore, this paper focuses on recent progress in research on plant-derived, microbe- and animal-derived and chemically synthesized QS inhibitors (QSI) of Aeromonas. The potential application of QSI to the prevention of aquatic product spoilage and aquatic diseases caused by Aeromonas is discussed in order to provide a reference for the application of Aeromonas QSI in aquatic product safety.

Key words: Aeromonas; quorum sensing; quorum sensing inhibitors; aquatic product spoilage; aquaculture diseases