Fimbria (bacteriology)

Fimbria (bacteriology)

In bacteriology, fimbria is a proteinaceous appendage in many gram-negative bacteria that is thinner and shorter than a flagellum. This appendage ranges from 3-10 nanometers in diameter and can be up to several micrometers long. Fimbriae are used by bacteria to adhere to one another and to adhere to animal cells. A bacterium can have as many as 1,000 fimbriae. Fimbriae are only visible with the use of an electron microscope.

Virulence

Fimbriae are one of the primary mechanisms of virulence for E. coli bacteria. Their presence greatly enhances the bacteria's ability to attach to the host and cause disease.cite journal |author=Connell I, Agace W, Klemm P, Schembri M, Mărild S, Svanborg C |title=Type 1 fimbrial expression enhances Escherichia coli virulence for the urinary tract |journal=Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. |volume=93 |issue=18 |pages=9827–32 |year=1996 |month=September |pmid=8790416 |pmc=38514 |doi= |url=http://www.pnas.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=8790416]

References

External links

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