Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Morphologies01:29

Microbial Morphologies

Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...
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...
Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence01:20

Determinants of Bacterial Pathogenicity and Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a variety of strategies to establish infections, including the secretion of extracellular enzymes that act as potent virulence factors. These enzymes facilitate bacterial colonization of host tissues and help evade immune surveillance. By targeting structural components of host tissues and interfering with immune mechanisms, these enzymes play a pivotal role in disease progression.Extracellular Enzymes Facilitating Tissue Invasion: Several bacterial pathogens secrete...
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...
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...
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Mechanistic insights into E. coli recovery from growth arrest.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Mechanistic insights into <i>E. coli</i> recovery from growth arrest.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Analysis of (p)ppGpp metabolism and signaling using a dynamic luminescent reporter.

PLoS genetics·2025
Same author

Disrupting NtrC function reveals unexpected robustness in a central cell cycle regulatory network.

mBio·2025
Same author

(p)ppGpp-dependent activation of gene expression during nutrient limitation.

mBio·2025
Same author

<i>Bacillus subtilis</i> MurJ and Amj Lipid II flippases are not essential for growth.

Journal of bacteriology·2025
Same journal

Riboflavin Salvage Supports Glycolysis in Borrelia burgdorferi Through Flavin-Dependent NAD<sup>+</sup> Regeneration.

Molecular microbiology·2026
Same journal

Distinct Spatial Organisation of Rho and RNA Polymerase in Salmonella Cells.

Molecular microbiology·2026
Same journal

A Single-Nucleotide Substitution Generates a de Novo Promoter That Activates a Latent Metabolic Bypass in Escherichia coli.

Molecular microbiology·2026
Same journal

A Phosphorylation-Dependent Partner-Switching-Like Module Regulates a Glycosyltransferase Required for Heterocyst Polysaccharide Layer Formation in Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120.

Molecular microbiology·2026
Same journal

Chain-Length Regulation by WzzE Is Necessary for, but Genetically Separable From, Cyclic Enterobacterial Common Antigen Synthesis.

Molecular microbiology·2026
Same journal

To Move or Not to Move: When and How Bacteria Suppress Flagellar Motility.

Molecular microbiology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization
06:33

Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization

Published on: October 29, 2019

Form equals function? Bacterial shape and its consequences for pathogenesis.

Jonathan Dworkin1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, NewYork, NY 10032, USA. jonathan.dworkin@columbia.edu

Molecular Microbiology
|December 1, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The helical shape of Helicobacter pylori is crucial for pathogenesis. A novel endopeptidase processes peptidoglycan, and its absence leads to colonization defects, highlighting bacterial morphology

More Related Videos

Functional Complementation Analysis (FCA): A Laboratory Exercise Designed and Implemented to Supplement the Teaching of Biochemical Pathways
09:27

Functional Complementation Analysis (FCA): A Laboratory Exercise Designed and Implemented to Supplement the Teaching of Biochemical Pathways

Published on: June 24, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization
06:33

Three-dimensional Imaging of Bacterial Cells for Accurate Cellular Representations and Precise Protein Localization

Published on: October 29, 2019

Functional Complementation Analysis (FCA): A Laboratory Exercise Designed and Implemented to Supplement the Teaching of Biochemical Pathways
09:27

Functional Complementation Analysis (FCA): A Laboratory Exercise Designed and Implemented to Supplement the Teaching of Biochemical Pathways

Published on: June 24, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Morphology
  • Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Bacterial cell shape is diverse and may impact function.
  • Helicobacter pylori's helical morphology is linked to its role in disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular basis of Helicobacter pylori's helical shape.
  • To understand the role of this morphology in bacterial pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Identification of a novel endopeptidase involved in peptidoglycan processing.
  • Analysis of catalytically inactive mutants and their effect on colonization.

Main Results:

  • A novel endopeptidase is essential for generating the helical shape of Helicobacter pylori.
  • Mutants lacking functional endopeptidase show impaired colonization, independent of motility.
  • The enzyme's role in forming coccoid morphology may be critical for pathogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • The identified endopeptidase is key to Helicobacter pylori's characteristic helical shape.
  • Altered bacterial morphology, specifically coccoid form, may be vital for H. pylori infection.
  • Further research into peptidoglycan modification and cell shape is warranted for understanding bacterial pathogenesis.