If you remove the fimbriae from the bacterial cell, which of the follo...
Fimbriae are hair like structures present in large number in bacteria. They help in attaching bacteria to solid surface or host tissues.
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If you remove the fimbriae from the bacterial cell, which of the follo...
**Explanation:**
**Fimbriae** are hair-like appendages that protrude from the surface of bacterial cells. They are made up of protein subunits called pilin. Fimbriae play a crucial role in the attachment of bacteria to host tissues, such as those in the respiratory tract, urinary tract, or gastrointestinal tract. They aid in the formation of biofilms and adherence to surfaces, allowing the bacteria to colonize and establish infections.
**The correct answer is option 'B': The bacteria would not adhere to the host tissue.**
Here's why:
1. **Function of Fimbriae:** Fimbriae are primarily responsible for mediating the initial attachment of bacteria to host tissues. They do this by binding to specific receptors on the surface of host cells. This adherence is an essential step in the pathogenesis of many bacterial infections.
2. **Biofilm Formation**: Fimbriae also play a crucial role in the formation of biofilms. Biofilms are complex microbial communities that adhere to surfaces and are encased in a protective matrix. They provide bacteria with increased resistance to antibiotics, host immune responses, and other environmental stresses.
3. **Loss of Adherence**: If the fimbriae are removed from the bacterial cell, the ability of the bacteria to adhere to host tissues would be significantly impaired. Without fimbriae, the bacteria would have difficulty binding to the specific receptors on host cells, making it challenging for them to establish infection and colonize host tissues.
4. **Other Functions Not Affected**: While fimbriae are involved in various functions, such as motility (swimming) and the formation of bacterial conjugation pili, these functions are distinct from their role in adherence to host tissues. Removing the fimbriae would not affect the bacteria's ability to swim, transport molecules across the membrane, or change their shape.
5. **Specificity of Adherence**: It is important to note that fimbriae exhibit specificity in their adherence to host tissues. Different bacterial species or strains may express different types of fimbriae, each with their own specific receptors on host cells. This specificity contributes to the tropism and virulence of certain bacterial pathogens.
In conclusion, removing the fimbriae from bacterial cells would primarily affect the bacteria's ability to adhere to host tissues, impairing their ability to establish infections and form biofilms.
If you remove the fimbriae from the bacterial cell, which of the follo...
Fimbriae are thread like surface structure of a prokaryotic cell ie, bacteria.
The role of fimbriae is :: attachment to the host cell.
If we remove fimbriae from host cell, then bacteria will not be able to attach to the host cell as helping structures are removed.
Fimbriae has nothing to do with movement (swimming) of bacteria, or transportation of molecules across the membrane or shape of cell.
Therefore option B is correct.
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