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Related Concept Videos

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
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Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
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...
Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments01:28

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 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

Motility of Spirochetes.

Shuichi Nakamura1, Md Shafiqul Islam2,3

  • 1Department of Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-05 Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8579, Japan. naka@bp.apph.tohoku.ac.jp.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|April 9, 2017
PubMed
Summary

This study presents a novel method to measure spirochete cell body rotation and swimming speed simultaneously. A new chemotaxis assay also allows real-time observation and quantification of spirochete responses to chemical stimuli.

Keywords:
ChemotaxisMicroscopic agar-drop assayOne-sided dark-field microscopeSpirochetes

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High-throughput Method for Observing Motility Phenotypes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
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High-throughput Method for Observing Motility Phenotypes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 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

Cultivation Methods of Spirochetes from Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Complex and Relapsing Fever Borrelia
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Cultivation Methods of Spirochetes from Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Complex and Relapsing Fever Borrelia

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High-throughput Method for Observing Motility Phenotypes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
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High-throughput Method for Observing Motility Phenotypes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Published on: June 20, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacteriology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Spirochetes are helical bacteria characterized by unique intracellular flagella (periplasmic flagella or endoflagella).
  • Spirochete motility is achieved through cell body rotation.
  • Understanding spirochete movement and chemotaxis is crucial for studying infections caused by these pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and present a method for simultaneously measuring cell body rotation and swimming speed in individual spirochete cells.
  • To describe a simple, real-time chemotaxis assay for observing and quantifying spirochete responses to attractants and repellents.

Main Methods:

  • Simultaneous measurement of cell body rotation and swimming speed using advanced microscopy techniques.
  • Development of a real-time microscopy-based chemotaxis assay.
  • Quantitative evaluation of spirochete behavioral responses to chemical stimuli.

Main Results:

  • Successful simultaneous measurement of spirochete cell body rotation and swimming speed.
  • Demonstration of a functional chemotaxis assay for real-time observation of spirochete behavior.
  • Quantitative data on spirochete responses to attractants and repellents.

Conclusions:

  • The developed methods provide novel tools for detailed analysis of spirochete motility and chemotaxis.
  • These techniques will advance the understanding of spirochete behavior and pathogenesis.
  • The study offers a foundation for future research into spirochete-host interactions and potential therapeutic targets.