Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Visualization of Twitching Motility and Characterization of the Role of the PilG in Xylella fastidiosa
08:44

Visualization of Twitching Motility and Characterization of the Role of the PilG in Xylella fastidiosa

Published on: April 8, 2016

Type IV pili-dependent gliding motility in the Gram-positive pathogen Clostridium perfringens and other Clostridia

John J Varga1, Van Nguyen, David K O'Brien

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, 2119 Derring Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.

Molecular Microbiology
|September 27, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Clostridium perfringens uses type IV pili (TFP) for an unusual gliding motility, challenging previous understanding of this bacterial movement. This finding suggests ancient bacterial ancestors possessed TFP, influencing the evolution of motility in many species.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Motility
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Bacteria exhibit flagellar, gliding, and twitching motility for movement.
  • Type IV pili (TFP) mediate gliding motility by extension, attachment, and retraction, observed primarily in Gram-negative bacteria.
  • The presence of TFP in Gram-positive bacteria has been historically unconfirmed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and function of TFP in Clostridium perfringens.
  • To characterize the unique gliding motility observed in C. perfringens colonies.
  • To explore the evolutionary implications of TFP in the Clostridia class.

Main Methods:

  • Genome sequencing of Clostridium perfringens strains to identify TFP-related genes.
  • Genetic manipulation, including creating mutations in pilT and pilC genes.
  • Microscopic observation of bacterial motility and TFP localization on surfaces.

Main Results:

  • C. perfringens possesses and utilizes TFP for motility.
  • An unusual gliding motility characterized by curvilinear flares of cell groups was observed.
  • Mutations in pilT and pilC genes eliminated motility and TFP surface presence.
  • TFP genes are conserved across sequenced Clostridium species, with Clostridium beijerinckii also exhibiting gliding motility.

Conclusions:

  • TFP-dependent gliding motility is present in Gram-positive bacteria, specifically in Clostridium species.
  • The widespread presence of TFP in Clostridia suggests an ancient origin within this bacterial class.
  • TFP likely played a crucial role in the early evolution of bacterial motility, predating its observed forms in Gram-negative species.

More Related Videos

High-throughput Method for Observing Motility Phenotypes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa07:23

High-throughput Method for Observing Motility Phenotypes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Published on: June 20, 2025

Generation of Null Mutants to Elucidate the Role of Bacterial Glycosyltransferases in Bacterial Motility12:29

Generation of Null Mutants to Elucidate the Role of Bacterial Glycosyltransferases in Bacterial Motility

Published on: March 11, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments01:28

Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments

Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of pilin protein, these hairlike appendages are crucial for bacterial survival and pathogenicity in various environments.Fimbriae: Adhesion and PathogenicityFimbriae are fine, filamentous structures measuring 2–10 nanometers in diameter and are densely distributed on the bacterial cell surface. They facilitate bacterial adhesion to abiotic...
Cytoskeletal Proteins in Bacteria01:29

Cytoskeletal Proteins in Bacteria

Bacterial cells were initially considered simple, randomly organized structures lacking a cytoskeleton. However, the discovery of cytoskeleton homologs in bacteria led to the change of this opinion. Bacterial cytoskeletal filaments regulate the cell shape, cell polarity, cell division, and partitioning of plasmids during cell division. It was later discovered that bacterial cytoskeletal proteins, mainly actin and tubulin homologs, are diverse compared to their eukaryotic counterparts. On the...
Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes01:24

Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes

The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
Flagella and Motility in Bacteria01:18

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

Flagella are specialized, thread-like structures that extend from a bacteria's cell envelope. They play a crucial role in motility and chemotaxis. Their structural organization and functioning exemplify sophisticated biological engineering, enabling bacterial survival and adaptability in diverse environments.Structure of the FlagellumA bacterial flagellum consists of three key components: the filament, the hook, and basal body. The filament, a long, helical structure composed of repeating...
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes01:30

Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes

Spirochetes, unique bacteria in the phylum Spirochaetes, are gram-negative, motile, tightly coiled, slender, and flexible. They inhabit aquatic sediments and animals, with some causing diseases like syphilis. Spirochetes are classified into eight genera based on habitat, pathogenicity, phylogeny, and characteristics.Their distinctive motility arises from endoflagella, located within the cell’s periplasm. These endoflagella anchor at the cell poles and extend along the cell length, encased by a...