The intricate blueprint of a bacterial flagellar motor
A landmark study in Nature Microbiology has revealed the near-complete structural model of the flagellar motor in Campylobacter jejuni, a major foodborne pathogen. This nanomachine is far more complex than the classical model derived from organisms like E. coli. The research details novel mechanisms for assembly, activation, and stability, involving additional protein components. Intriguingly, some of these unique structures are conserved only within the Campylobacterota phylum, suggesting their ancestor may have co-opted components from type IV pili systems, potentially originating from deep-ocean bacteria.
Why it might matter to you: This work fundamentally advances our understanding of bacterial motility and pathogenesis, a core topic in microbiology. For researchers focused on host–microbe interactions or antimicrobial strategies, the unique components of this motor represent novel, phylum-specific targets that could inform the development of more precise interventions against Campylobacter and related pathogens.
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