Investigating bacteroidetes gliding motility

Bacteria is known to explore its milieu using pili or agella as motors. A somewhat more exotic and less studied form of movement is gliding motility. In the Bacteroidetes clade is a type of gliding motility that is powered by a secretion system. The mechanics of gliding motility are still mainly unknown, but it seems to crawl over surfaces much like a tank does, propelling adhesins in a helical path along the rod-shaped cell body and moves relative to those adhesins. In this research project, I will investigate the mechanisms by which the adhesins are secreted to, and propelled around, the cell surface.

This is a basic science research project, underpinning the BBSRC research priorities "Animal health" and "Combating antimicrobial resistance".