Morphological plasticity as a bacterial survival strategy

Sheryl S Justice; David A Hunstad; Lynette Cegelski; Scott J Hultgren

doi:10.1038/nrmicro1820

Morphological plasticity as a bacterial survival strategy

Nat Rev Microbiol. 2008 Feb;6(2):162-8. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro1820.

Authors

Sheryl S Justice¹, David A Hunstad, Lynette Cegelski, Scott J Hultgren

Affiliation

¹ Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA.

PMID: 18157153
DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro1820

Abstract

Bacteria have evolved complex systems to maintain consistent cell morphologies. Nevertheless, in certain circumstances, bacteria alter this highly regulated process to transform into filamentous organisms. Accumulating evidence attributes important biological roles to filamentation in stressful environments, including, but not limited to, sites of interaction between pathogenic bacteria and their hosts. Filamentation could represent an intended response to specific environmental cues that promote survival amidst the threats of consumption and killing.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Physiological
Animals
Epithelial Cells / microbiology
Escherichia coli / pathogenicity
Escherichia coli / physiology
Gram-Negative Bacteria* / growth & development
Gram-Negative Bacteria* / pathogenicity
Gram-Negative Bacteria* / physiology
Gram-Negative Bacteria* / ultrastructure
Heat-Shock Response
Host-Pathogen Interactions*
Humans
Mycobacterium tuberculosis* / growth & development
Mycobacterium tuberculosis* / pathogenicity
Mycobacterium tuberculosis* / physiology
Mycobacterium tuberculosis* / ultrastructure
Urinary Bladder / cytology
Urinary Bladder / microbiology
Urinary Tract Infections / microbiology