biostudies-literatureGeiger CJHHS | National Institutes of HealthHHS | National Institutes of Health (NIH)NIAID NIH HHSe0044223https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11270903biostudies-literatureUnknown206(7)Most microbial cells found in nature exist in matrix-covered, surface-attached communities known as biofilms. This mode of growth is initiated by the ability of the microbe to sense a surface on which to grow. The opportunistic pathogen <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> (<i>Pa</i>) PA14 utilizes a single polar flagellum and type 4 pili (T4P) to sense surfaces. For <i>Pa</i>, T4P-dependent "twitching" motility is characterized by effectively pulling the cell across a surface through a complex process of cooperative binding, pulling, and unbinding. T4P retraction is powered by hexameric ATPases. <i>Pa</i> cells that have engaged a surface increase production of the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) over multiple generations via the Pil-Chp system. This rise in cAMP allows cells and their progenJournal of bacteriologyA bacterial sense of touch: T4P retraction motor as a means of surface sensing by &lt;i&gt;Pseudomonas aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt; PA14.PMC11270903T32 AI007519R01 AI143730R37 AI052453, R01AI143730R01 AI052453R37 AI052453R37 AI083256O'Toole GAGeiger CJWong GCLfalseA bacterial sense of touch: T4P retraction motor as a means of surface sensing by &lt;i&gt;Pseudomonas aeruginosa&lt;/i&gt; PA14.Most microbial cells found in nature exist in matrix-covered, surface-attached communities known as biofilms. This mode of growth is initiated by the ability of the microbe to sense a surface on which to grow. The opportunistic pathogen <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> (<i>Pa</i>) PA14 utilizes a single polar flagellum and type 4 pili (T4P) to sense surfaces. For <i>Pa</i>, T4P-dependent "twitching" motility is characterized by effectively pulling the cell across a surface through a complex process of cooperative binding, pulling, and unbinding. T4P retraction is powered by hexameric ATPases. <i>Pa</i> cells that have engaged a surface increase production of the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) over multiple generations via the Pil-Chp system. This rise in cAMP allows cells and their progen2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jul2026-06-03T00:59:46.094Z2025-04-04T01:57:50.642ZS-EPMC112709033883278610.1128/jb.00442-23