Method for detecting a gram-negative bacterial autoinducer molecule

A method for detecting an autoinducer of a Gram negative bacterium in a sample comprising:

• adding to the sample an antibody or a functionally active fragment thereof which binds immuno specifically to the autoinducer of the Gram negative bacterium having Formula (I):
• wherein X is O, S, N—(C1-C6) alkyl, NR2, N-phenyl;
• Y is C1-C6 straight or branched alkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched alkenyl, C1-C6 straight or branched alkynyl;
• Z is C═O, C═S, CHOH, C═N—NR1, C═N—OH, C1-C8 straight or branched alkyl, C1-C8 straight or branched alkenyl, C1-C8 straight or branched alkynyl;
• L is C1-C18 straight or branched alkyl, C1-C18 straight or branched alkenyl C1-C18 straight or branched alkynyl, or —CO2H, —CO2R1, —CHO, —C≡N, —N═C═O, —N═C═S, OH, OR1, —CH═CH—CH2Br, —CH═CH—CH2Cl, —SAc or SH, where R1 is C1-C6 straight or branched alkyl, m is 0 or 1;
• z is 0 or 1;
• R2 is H, C1-C6 straight or branched alkyl, C1-C6 straight or branched alkenyl or C1-C6 straight or branched alkynyl, or CO2H;
• and Q is CH or N;
• and n is 0-3 with the proviso that when n is 0, X is N—(C1-C6 alkyl) or N-phenyl;
• and
• detecting whether immonospecific binding occurs between the antibody, or the functionally active fragment thereof, and the autoinducer of the Gram negative bacterium, wherein said immunospecific binding indicates presence of the autoinducer in the sample.