Prokaryotic Cell Structure: Flagella

Learning Objectives for "Prokaryotic Cell Structure: Flagella"

After completing this section you should be able to perform the following objectives.

1. Describe the basic structure of a bacterial flagellum and state its function.

2. State what provides the energy for bacterial flagellar rotation.

3. Define the following flagellar arrangements:

a. monotrichous
b. lophotrichous
c. amphitrichous
d. peritrichous
e. axial filaments

4. Define taxis.

5. Compare and contrast how bacteria with peritrichous flagella and bacteria with polar flagella carry out taxis.

6*. State how bacterial flagella may play a role in the initiation of innate immune defenses.

7*. Briefly describe how bacterial flagella and chemotaxis may play a role in the pathogenocity of some bacteria.

(*) = Common theme throughout the course

Highlighted Bacterium

1. Read the description of Treponema pallidum and match the bacterium with the description of the organism and the infection it causes.

Think-Pair-Share Questions

Many pathogenic bacteria that infect the intestinal tract have flagella.

1. Why might having flagella better enable those bacteria to cause disease?

2. Our defense cells have a surface PRR called TLR-5 that recognizes bacterial flagellin. In terms of preventing infection, why is this an advantage?

3. Most pathogenic spirochetes such as Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi disseminate from the original infection site. How are they able to do this?

RETURN TO "PROKARYOTIC CELL STRUCTURE: FLAGELLA"