Type IV pili are retractile, filamentous appendages that drive twitching motility, facilitating the early stages of biofilm formation on biotic and abiotic surfaces. Through cycles of pilus extension, ...

Scientists are studying how bacteria move across surfaces -- a process known as twitching motility. New findings led to the surprising discovery of the key role surface properties play in either ...

Bacteria are constantly moving by help of motility organs called flagella or pili to colonize new niches. Also, bacteria can exchange information, like “speaking to each other”, and thus acquire new ...

Biological motors, which aid microorganism movement in fluids, are composed of two components -- the rotor and stators. Despite much research, the exact molecular mechanism underlying stator function ...

In the classic “run-and-tumble” movement pattern, bacteria swim forward (“run”) in one direction and then stop to rotate and reorient themselves in a new direction (“tumble”). During experiments where ...

“A very diverse set of gut bacteria can ‘swim’ through the layer of mucus that lines the intestines using specialized thread-like structures called flagella, the assembly and function of which ...