Lecture 2 structures Flashcards
How are flagella assembled?
In a step-by-step manner using a specialized protein secretion pathway called type 3 secretion
How fast can flagella go?
Up to 100mph
Describe the use of flagella in H. Pylori
H. Pylori will create a “sheath” of flagella using synthesized sugar; the most vulnerable point of a flagella is its very tip, so they have extra proteins that create a “terminal bulb” at the ends of the flagella.
Coordinated counterclockwise motion of flagella leads to swimming, and is a(n) __________
Clockwise motion of flagella leads to tumbling, and is a(n) _________.
Counterclockwise swimming is an attractant; clockwise tumbling is a repellent
Define chemotaxis
Swimming motility; movement toward or away
Describe the structure of flagella
1) There’s a protein structure across the envelope, called the basal body or rotor.
2) Just above the basal body there’s a hook, called a universal joint
3) The filament acts as a propeller
What are flagella driven by?
Ionic potential/ proton motive force
The motor that turns the flagella rotates on average _____ rpm.
E. coli = ______rpm
Vibrio = ______rpm
500; E. coli is 5,000rpm; Vibrio is 100,000rpm
How does flagella motion activate for chemotaxis?
Chemoreceptors in envelope relay information to flagellar apparati, so the flagella turn on when the bacteria senses food
Why is adherence so important to bacteria?
Provides an advantage, prevents removal by fluids
True or false: Virtually all pathogenic bacteria having ways of attaching themselves firmly to host cells
True
Define pili (fimbriae) and what they do
Defined as filamentous appendages composed of “pilin” protein that are anchored to the outer membrane of Gram negative bacteria
-Mediate attachment to eukaryotic host cells
Pili are primarily found in Gram-________ bacteria
negative
Pili are peritrichou; define peritrichou
Hairy all over
Give an example of a specialized pili
Sex or F pilus for bacterial conjugation
What can be described as “rod-shaped protein structures extend from the bacterial surface and bind to host cell surface molecules (typically carbohydrates.)”?
Pili
True or false: Pili can be evenly distributed or located preferentially to one part of the bacterial cell.
True
Define afimbrial adhesins. What kind of bacteria are they found in?
-Defined as bacterial surface proteins that are not organized in a rodlike structure and mediate tight binding between bacteria and host cell.
-All bacteria have these
Bacteria may produce both pili and afimbrial adhesins. Why?
To lock into the surface if it’s in an area of fast flow
Define capsules
Capsules are an enormous layer of polysaccharides
(With the exception of Bacillus anthracis poly-D glutamic acid, a polypeptide capsule)
What does the capsule of bacteria do?
It’s anti-phagocytic; it’s also called the K-antigen and has thousands of serotypes
What is the K antigen?
Capsules