Uncovering the mechanism of trapping and cell orientation during Neisseria gonorrhoeae twitching motility.

ABSTRACT: Neisseria gonorrheae bacteria are the causative agent of the second most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. The bacteria move on a surface by means of twitching motility. Their movement is mediated by multiple long and flexible filaments, called type IV pili, that extend from the cell body, attach to the surface, and retract, thus generating a pulling force. Moving cells also use pili to aggregate and form microcolonies. However, the mechanism by which the pili surrounding the cell body work together to propel bacteria remains unclear. Understanding this process will help describe the motility of N. gonorrheae bacteria, and thus the dissemination of the disease which they cause. In this article we track individual twitching cells and observe that their trajectories consist

SUBMITTER: Zaburdaev V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4190650 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature