Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Morphologies

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...

Cytoskeletal Proteins in Bacteria

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...

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

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...

Bacterial Signaling

Bacterial Signaling

Bacterial signaling can occur within bacteria (intracellular) or between bacteria (intercellular). At times, a group of bacteria behaves like a community. To achieve this, they engage in quorum sensing, the perception of higher cell density that causes changes in gene expression. Quorum sensing involves both extracellular and intracellular signaling. The signaling cascade starts with a molecule called an autoinducer (AI). Individual bacteria produce AIs that move out of the bacterial cell...

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

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...

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Transient perinuclear actin rings prevent cell aging and apoptosis via nuclear mechanical protection.

Biophysical journal·2026

Same author

Force loading on molecular clutches governs the stability of cell lamellipodia.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Whole organism 3D mapping reveals universal branching topology and biophysical optimization governs vascular and nervous system development.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Cell-nanoplastics association impacts cell proliferation and motility.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

FtsZ forms biomolecular condensates in a polar-growing Alphaproteobacterium.

mBio·2026

Same author

Influence of body composition on short- and long-term clinical outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy.

European journal of surgical oncology : the journal of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and the British Association of Surgical Oncology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

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

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

Published on: October 29, 2019

Mechanical control of bacterial cell shape.

Hongyuan Jiang¹, Fangwei Si, William Margolin

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Biophysical Journal

|July 20, 2011

Summary

Bacterial cell shape is controlled by the MreB protein, which reinforces the cell wall. Without MreB, bacterial cells become unstable and tend to be rounded, demonstrating a link between mechanics and bacterial morphology.

More Related Videos

Measuring the Bending Stiffness of Bacterial Cells Using an Optical Trap

Measuring the Bending Stiffness of Bacterial Cells Using an Optical Trap

Published on: April 26, 2010

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis

Published on: June 30, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2026

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

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

Published on: October 29, 2019

Measuring the Bending Stiffness of Bacterial Cells Using an Optical Trap

Measuring the Bending Stiffness of Bacterial Cells Using an Optical Trap

Published on: April 26, 2010

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis

Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy as a Rapid Technique for Morphological Observation and Bacterial Cell Damage Analysis

Published on: June 30, 2023

Area of Science:

* Microbiology
* Biophysics
* Theoretical Biology

Background:

* Bacterial cell morphology is crucial for survival and function.
* Cytoskeletal proteins, like MreB, play a key role in maintaining bacterial shape.
* Understanding the physical and chemical factors governing cell shape is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

* To develop a theoretical model explaining bacterial cell shape determination.
* To investigate the role of MreB in cell wall mechanics and morphology.
* To explore the interplay between cell wall growth, mechanics, and cytoskeletal elements.

Main Methods:

* Development of a theoretical model integrating cell wall growth, mechanics, and cytoskeletal dynamics.
* Simulation of bacterial cell growth with and without the MreB protein.
* Analysis of mechanical stresses and material turnover in the bacterial cell wall.

Main Results:

* Predicted that MreB mechanically reinforces the cell wall, preventing instability.
* Showed that cells lacking MreB exhibit an instability favoring rounded shapes.
* Quantitatively described reversible morphological transformations and cell division.

Conclusions:

* Bacterial shape is dynamically regulated by cell wall material turnover influenced by mechanical stress.
* MreB is essential for maintaining rod-like bacterial morphology by reinforcing the cell wall.
* The model suggests a general principle linking mechanics and chemistry to organismal shape.