Bacteria Using Motility and Chemotaxis to Contact Host Cells

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The mucosal surfaces of the bladder and the intestines constantly flush bacteria away in order to prevent colonization. Motile bacteria that can swim chemotactically toward mucosal surfaces may have a better chance to make contact with the mucous membranes, attach, and colonize. Many bacteria that can colonize the mucous membranes of the bladder and the intestines are motile. Motility probably helps these bacteria move through the mucus in places where it is less viscous.

Flash animation illustrating Bacteria Using Motility and Chemotaxis to Contact Host Cells.swf by Gary E. Kaiser, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology, The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://faculty.ccbcmd.edu/~gkaiser/index.html.

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Last updated: September, 2018
Please send comments and inquiries to Dr. Gary Kaiser