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

Outer Layers of the Cell Envelope01:18

Outer Layers of the Cell Envelope

1.3K
The outermost layers of prokaryotic cells play a critical role in their survival, virulence, and interaction with the environment. These layers, often composed of polysaccharides, polypeptides, or proteins, form protective and adhesive structures that vary in organization and function.Capsules and Slime LayersCapsules are highly organized, tightly bound layers that firmly attach to the bacterial cell wall. Capsules are usually made of polysaccharides, though some are made of polypeptides. These...
1.3K
Formation of Lipopolysaccharides01:19

Formation of Lipopolysaccharides

753
Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are crucial components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, serving both structural and functional roles. It contributes to membrane stability and protects bacteria from host immune responses. LPS is composed of three major regions—lipid A, a core oligosaccharide, and an O antigen. The biosynthesis and assembly of LPS involve a highly coordinated set of enzymatic reactions and transport mechanisms. Additionally, LPS is recognized as an endotoxin,...
753
Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes01:30

Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes

948
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...
948
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

3.1K
The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
3.1K
Protein Transport to the Outer Chloroplast Membrane01:11

Protein Transport to the Outer Chloroplast Membrane

2.4K
Chloroplast outer membrane proteins encoded by the nucleus are synthesized in the cytosol. Soon after synthesis, they bind cytosolic factors such as 14-3-3 protein and the Hsp70 chaperones that keep these precursors in an unfolded state until their translocation.
Two models describe the mechanism of precursor recognition and entry across the outer membrane through the TOC complex. Model 1 suggests the newly synthesized precursor binds to the TOC receptor 159 and forms a complex.
2.4K
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

10.4K
Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
10.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Overview of the Shanghai International Syphilis Symposium (SISS 2025).

Sexually transmitted diseases·2026
Same author

Advancements in Syphilis Vaccine Development.

Sexually transmitted diseases·2026
Same author

Strengthening the Leader Within: A Deep Dive into Impact of Yoga on Various Leadership Traits - A Narrative Review.

Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine·2026
Same author

Structural Characterization of the Type IV Secretion System in <i>Brucella melitensis</i> for Virtual Screening-Based Therapeutic Targeting.

Journal of chemical information and modeling·2026
Same author

Comparison of a long-read amplicon sequencing approach to short-read amplicons for microbiome analysis.

Microbiology spectrum·2026
Same author

<i>Treponema pallidum</i> subsp. <i>pallidum</i> genetic population structure and relevance to syphilis prevention and treatment.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Syphilis Research &#8212; Innovations in Treponema pallidum Cultivation and Genetic Engineering
09:45

Author Spotlight: Advancing Syphilis Research — Innovations in Treponema pallidum Cultivation and Genetic Engineering

Published on: January 24, 2025

7.2K

The Treponema pallidum Outer Membrane.

Justin D Radolf1, Sanjiv Kumar2

  • 1Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Immunology, UConn Health, Farmington, CT 06030-3715, USA. JRadolf@uchc.edu.

Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology
|August 30, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Treponema pallidum

More Related Videos

Immuno-fluorescence Assay of Leptospiral Surface-exposed Proteins
10:47

Immuno-fluorescence Assay of Leptospiral Surface-exposed Proteins

Published on: July 1, 2011

16.3K
Electron Cryotomography of Bacterial Cells
14:23

Electron Cryotomography of Bacterial Cells

Published on: May 6, 2010

26.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Syphilis Research &#8212; Innovations in Treponema pallidum Cultivation and Genetic Engineering
09:45

Author Spotlight: Advancing Syphilis Research — Innovations in Treponema pallidum Cultivation and Genetic Engineering

Published on: January 24, 2025

7.2K
Immuno-fluorescence Assay of Leptospiral Surface-exposed Proteins
10:47

Immuno-fluorescence Assay of Leptospiral Surface-exposed Proteins

Published on: July 1, 2011

16.3K
Electron Cryotomography of Bacterial Cells
14:23

Electron Cryotomography of Bacterial Cells

Published on: May 6, 2010

26.3K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • The outer membrane (OM) of Treponema pallidum, the syphilis agent, has been poorly understood.
  • Previous research mistakenly attributed its properties to external protein coats.
  • The OM's fragility and low protein content hindered characterization of surface molecules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Treponema pallidum.
  • To identify surface-exposed proteins involved in host-pathogen interactions.
  • To understand the structural and functional properties of T. pallidum's outer membrane.

Main Methods:

  • Genomic sequence analysis combined with computational tools to predict beta-barrel proteins.
  • Experimental validation using diverse methodologies to confirm protein structure and surface exposure.
  • Development of a structural homology model for BamA and determination of Tpr protein topology.

Main Results:

  • Identified and confirmed surface-exposed OMPs in T. pallidum, including structural homologs of Gram-negative OMPs.
  • Established the beta-barrel structure for candidate OMPs and elucidated the bipartite topology of Tpr proteins.
  • Revealed a more Gram-negative-like OMP repertoire than previously assumed.

Conclusions:

  • Treponema pallidum possesses a more conventional Gram-negative-like outer membrane protein system.
  • Surface-exposed lipoproteins and proteases may play roles in syphilis pathogenesis and immunity.
  • This research provides a foundation for understanding T. pallidum's host interactions and developing diagnostics/therapeutics.