Slime enables movement: bacteria

Some bacteria move by 'pushing' off secreted carbohydrate slime.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Move or stay put >
	Move >
	In/on solids

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Biolubricants

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Gliding motion across surfaces, usually with slime--whether or not by the same scheme--occurs in procaryotic organisms (bacteria and their kin) as well. It's based on either of two mechanisms. Bacteria are often covered with tiny hairs, pili; retraction of one type (designated IV) through their outer membranes can move them around. Alternatively, they can secrete carbohydrate slime rearward to get a push (Kaiser 2000; Merz and Forest 2002)." (Vogel 2003:450)

About the inspiring organism

Bacteria
Bacteria

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Biolubricants

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Manufacturing, transportation

Experts

Department of Biochemistry
A. Dale Kaiser (Emeritus)
Stanford University School of Medicine

Department of Bacteriology
Katrina Forest
University of Wisconsin--Madison

References

Steven Vogel. 2003. Comparative Biomechanics: Life's Physical World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 580 p.

Merz, AJ; Forest, KT. 2002. Bacterial surface motility: slime trails, grappling hooks, and nozzles. Current Biology. 12: R297-R303.

Kaiser, D. 2000. Bacterial motility: how do pili pull?. Current Biology. 10(21): R777-R780.

Slime enables movement: bacteria

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