Image of bacteriological pili or fimbriae

A pilus (Latin; plural : pili) is a hairlike structure on the surface of a cell, especially Gram-negative bacteria, a protein appendage required for bacterial conjugation. Pili connect the bacterium to another of its species and build a bridge between the cytoplasm of either cell. That enables the transfer of plasmids between the bacteria. An exchanged plasmid can add new functions to a bacterium, e.g., an antibiotic resistance. Pili, a prokaryotic organelle File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Pili, a prokaryotic organelle File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Latin is the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. ... Cells in culture, stained for keratin (red) and DNA (green) The cell is the structural and functional unit of all living organisms, sometimes called the building blocks of life. ... Bacteria that are Gram-negative are not stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining, in contrast to Gram-positive bacteria. ... Phyla/Divisions Actinobacteria Aquificae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Nitrospirae Omnibacteria Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Bacteria (singular, bacterium) are a major group of living organisms. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... Phyla/Divisions Actinobacteria Aquificae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Nitrospirae Omnibacteria Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Bacteria (singular, bacterium) are a major group of living organisms. ... Bacterial conjugation is the often regarded as the bacterial equivalent of sexual reproduction or mating; however it is not actually sexual as it does not involve the fusing of gametes and the creation of a zygote, it is merely the exchange of genetic information. ... Figure 1 : Schematic drawing of a bacterium with plasmids enclosed. ... Antibiotic resistance is the ability of a microorganism to withstand the effects of an antibiotic. ...

Sometimes called a sex pilus (plural: sex pili). Up to ten of these structures can exist on the bacteria. Some bacterial viruses or bacteriphages attach to receptors on sex pili at the start of their reproductive cycle. A common alternate meaning of virus is computer virus. ... Receptor may refer to: In telecommunication, a receiver. ... Reproduction is the creation of one thing as a copy of, product of, or replacement for a similar thing, e. ...

Despite the name "sex pilus", this has nothing to do with sexual reproduction or mating, nor is it the bacterial equivalent of a penis; such misnomers are used quite frequently in describing the process, and while may prove useful in understanding underlying concepts are misleading nonetheless. Sexual reproduction is a process of reproduction involving the merging of two gametes from the same species to produce a new organism. ... A pair of lions having sexual intercourse in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. ... The penis (plural penises or penes) or phallus is the external male copulatory organ of some animals, and, in mammals, the external male organ of urination. ... Look up Misnomer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... A concept is an abstract, universal idea, notion or entity that serves to designate a category or class of entities, events or relations. ...

A pilus is typically 9 to 10 nm in diameter. The sex pilus allows for the transfer of bacterial DNA from the bacteria with the pilus (donor) to the recipient bacteria. Through this mechanism of genetic transformation, advantageous genetic traits can be disseminated amongst a population of bacteria. Not all bacteria have the ability to create sex pili, however sex pili can form between bacteria of different species. Nm or NM may stand for: nanometre (nm) nautical mile (nm) New Mexico newton metre, properly written N m or N·m nm (UNIX), the UNIX command no mercy never mind or not much (nm), see Internet slang non metallic cable, a type of electrical cable widely used in house... Space-filling model of a section of DNA molecule Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions specifying the biological development of all cellular forms of life (and many viruses). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Genetically modified organism. ... Transformation has two meanings in molecular biology: Transformation is the genetic alteration of a cell resulting from the introduction, uptake and expression of foreign DNA. Transformation is also the process by which normal cells are converted into cells that will continue to divide without limit. ... In biology, a trait or character is a genetically inherited feature of an organism. ...

It is an extension of the cytoplasm and used for attachment to surfaces (and is then called a fimbrium) and conjugation with another cell of the same species. The cytoplasm is a jelly-like material, made up of mostly water, that fills the cell. ... Bacterial conjugation is the often regarded as the bacterial equivalent of sexual reproduction or mating; however it is not actually sexual as it does not involve the fusing of gametes and the creation of a zygote, it is merely the exchange of genetic information. ... In biology, a species is, loosely speaking, a group of related organisms that share a more or less distinctive form and are capable of interbreeding. ...

A fimbrium (Latin; plural: fimbria) (main article: fimbria) is a short pilus that is used to attach the cell to a surface. Fimbria are either located at the poles of a cell, or are evenly spread over its entire surface. Mutant bacteria that lack fimbria cannot adhere to their usual target surfaces and, thus, cannot cause diseases. A fimbria (plural fimbriae) is an appendage in many gram-negative bacteria that is thinner than a flagellum. ... A mutant (also known to early geneticists a monster) is an individual, organism, or new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is a sudden structural change within the DNA of a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character... A disease is any abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person affected or those in contact with the person. ...

Pili generate motile force via interactions with the bacteria cytoskeleton MreB which is homologous to eukaryotic actin. The process is akin to the myosin power stroke. The external termini of the pili adhere to solid substrate, and subsequent pili contraction pulls the bacteria forward, not unlike a grappling hook.

See also

• Flagellum