title: Morphological plasticity as a bacterial survival strategy.
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.
authors.affiliation: Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA.
authors.forename: Sheryl S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Justice
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hunstad
authors.forename: Lynette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cegelski
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hultgren
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018869:Heat-Shock Response; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology