Flagella-dependent motility is widespread throughout prokaryotes and is advantageous when nutrients are limited, as a mechanism to migrate to more favourable environments and to compete with other microorganisms. Flagella systems can also play an important role in additional processes such as adhesion to substrates, biofilm formation and host invasion in pathogenic bacteria. A variety of different classes of pili are found in prokaryotes and these structures also possess a diverse array of functions. Pili are essential for host colonization, virulence and pathogenesis for many bacteria and, in the case of type IV pili, can also be employed for motility across solid surfaces.
Further reading:
Pili and FlagellaLabels: adhesion, biofilms, flagella, motility, pili
Bacteria assemble a variety of structures on their cell surface, including extended fibers generally termed
pili or
fimbriae. These pili mediate interactions with other bacteria, the host, and the environment.
Pili often function as adhesins, dictating specific binding to and colonization of biological as well as non-biological surfaces. Pili are critical virulence factors for pathogenic bacteria, initiating infection and determining how and where bacterial colonization may occur. A variety of different classes of pili are found in prokaryotes. Pili have a diverse array of functions. Pili are essential for host colonization, virulence and pathogenesis for many bacteria and, in the case of type IV pili, can also be employed for motility across solid surfaces.
Further reading:
- Pili and Flagella
- Bacterial Secreted Proteins
- Microbiology Books
Labels: adhesins, colonization, fimbriae, flagella, motility, pathogenesis, pathogenic, pili, type IV pili, virulence
Pili and Flagella: Current Research and Future TrendsPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editor: Ken Jarrell
Publication date: August 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-48-6
A recommended text for all microbiology laboratories and an essential volume for anyone involved in microbial adhesion, pathogenesis, virulence, structural biology, host colonization and motility.
further informationLab-on-a-Chip Technology: Biomolecular Separation and AnalysisPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editor: Keith E. Herold and Avraham Rasooly
Publication date: August 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-47-9
A skillful selection of topics of exceptional importance to current science ensures that this book will be of major value to a wide range of molecular biologists, clinical scientists, microbiologists, biochemists and anyone interested in LOC technology or developing applications for LOC devices.
further informationLab-on-a-Chip Technology: Fabrication and MicrofluidicsPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editor: Keith E. Herold and Avraham Rasooly
Publication date: August 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-46-2
This comprehensive volume presents the current technologies in the field and includes theoretical and technical information to enable both the understanding of the technology and the reproduction of experiments. The book aims to help the reader to understand current LOC technologies, to perform similar experiments, to design new LOC systems and to develop new methodologies and applications.
further informationBacterial Polysaccharides: Current Innovations and Future TrendsPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editor: Matthias Ullrich
Publication date: June 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-45-5
Essential reading for everyone with an interest in bacterial polysaccharides, from the PhD student to the experienced scientist, as it provides a timely review of the current and most topical areas of research.
further informationMicrobial Toxins: Current Research and Future TrendsPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editor: Thomas Proft
Publication date: May 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-44-8
Written by internationally respected scientists, topics reviewed include: toxins carried by mobile genetic elements, botulinum neurotoxins, anthrax, subtilase cytotoxin, Pasteurella toxin, RTX toxins, vacA toxin, immune evasion toxins and fungal ribotoxins.
further informationAcanthamoeba: Biology and PathogenesisPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Author: Naveed Khan
Publication date: February 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-43-1
This book provides the first comprehensive review of Acanthamoeba research to be published. Everything that is known about Acanthamoeba is critically reviewed and divided into easy-to-follow sections.
further informationBacterial Secreted Proteins: Secretory Mechanisms and Role in PathogenesisPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editor: Karl Wooldridge
Publication date: April 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-42-4
The book constitutes a broad and in-depth description of the current knowledge of bacterial protein secretion and its role in pathogenesis. A recommended reference volume for all microbiology libraries.
further informationLactobacillus Molecular Biology: From Genomics to ProbioticsPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editors: Åsa Ljungh and Torkel Wadström
Publication date: January 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-41-7
This major new work focuses on recent research on the molecular biology and genomics of Lactobacillus. Written by an international team of scientists the volume is an essential reference for all medical researchers, dairy technologists, microbiologists and biotechnologists in the academic and industrial sectors.
further informationMycobacterium: Genomics and Molecular BiologyPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editor: Tanya Parish and Amanda Brown
Publication date: January 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-40-0
Expert scientists critically review the current and most recent advances in the genomics and molecular biology of mycobacteria. The focus is on the topical and most relevant aspects and the authors aim to give readers an insight into the current understanding of the subject and the future direction of research.
further informationReal-Time PCR: Current Technology and ApplicationsPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editor: Julie Logan, Kirstin Edwards and Nick Saunders
Publication date: January 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-39-4
This essential manual presents a comprehensive guide to the most up-to-date technologies and applications as well as providing an overview of the theory of this increasingly important technique.
further informationClostridia: Molecular Biology in the Post-genomic EraPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editors: Holger Brüggemann and Gerhard Gottschalk
Publication date: January 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-38-7
The first major focus of the book is the genetics and molecular biology of the major clostridial toxins including: botulinum and tetanus neurotoxins, C. difficile large exotoxins, C. perfringens enterotoxin, pore-forming and binary bacterial toxins. Other topics include: molecular epidemiology of C. botulinum and C. difficile, metabolic networks in C. acetobutylicum, development of genetic knock-out systems for clostridia, surface structures, anti tumor potential of clostridia, and antibiotic resistance determinants in C. difficile.
further informationPlant Pathogenic Bacteria: Genomics and Molecular BiologyPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editor: Robert W. Jackson
Publication date: January 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-37-0
With contributions from some of the pioneering bacterial plant pathogen genome sequencers, this book is essential reading for every plant pathogen researcher, from the PhD student to the experienced scientist, as it provides a timely review of the current and most topical areas of research.
further informationMicrobial Production of Biopolymers and Polymer Precursors: Applications and PerspectivesPublisher: Caister Academic Press
Editor: Bernd H. A. Rehm
Publication date: January 2009
ISBN: 978-1-904455-36-3
Topics include the biochemistry and genetics of biosynthesis of xanthan, alginate, cellulose, cyanophycin, poly(gamma-glutamic acid), levan, hyaluronic acid, organic acids, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, and polyhydroxyalkanoates. A recommended book for all biotechnology and microbiology laboratories.
further informationLabels: books, flagella, lab on a chip, pili, publications