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Question

Are pili and fimbriae mainly involved in the motility of bacterial cells?


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Solution

Fimbriae

  1. Fimbriae are the thin protein tube which originates from the cytoplasmic membrane in many bacteria.
  2. It is bristle-like short fibres present on the surface of bacteria made of fimbrillin protein.
  3. They are present in both Gram-negative as well as Gram-positive bacteria.
  4. Around 200 to 400 fimbriae are present per bacterial cell.

Pili

  1. Pili are hair-like long tubular microfibers which are present on the surface of bacteria.
  2. They are present in Gram-negative bacteria only.
  3. They are made of pilin protein and are present from 1 to 10 in number per cell.

Functions

  1. Pili and fimbriae help in cell motility.
  2. Other functions include cell-cell interactions and DNA uptake.
  3. Pili aids in adherence to the surface resulting in virulence and infection.

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