The laboratory report shows that a motility test was performed on the sample with positive results. Thinking about bacterial movement, the RN is aware that this bacterium could possess which structure(s) for motility?
Flagella can be defined as a long, thin and tubular projection that extends out of the body of certain bacterial cells.
They are constituted of a protein called flagellin.
They are composed of two parts, which are, the extended helical filaments that can undergo propulsion or movement and a rotary motor body that is located at the base of the filaments, attached to the plasma membrane.
A single bacteria can have one or more flagella.
The flagella undergoes propulsion or rotary movements and helps the bacteria to translocate from one place to another.
The rotary movement of the flagella is caused by the rotary motion of a protein complex called the Motility Protein A (Mot) complex located in the inner cell membrane anchored to the flagella.
A proton gradient is maintained across the inner plasma membrane of the bacteria and this generates a proton motive force which induces the mot complex proteins and the flagella to undergo the rotary motion and hence propulsion.