title: Physics of bacterial near-surface motility using flagella and type IV pili: implications for biofilm formation.
abstract: We review physically-motivated studies of bacterial near-surface motility driven by flagella and type IV pili (TfP) in the context of biofilm formation. We describe the motility mechanisms that individual bacteria deploying flagella and TfP use to move on and near surfaces, and discuss how the interactions of motility appendages with fluid and surfaces promote motility, attachment and dispersal of bacteria on surfaces prior to biofilm formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Petroleum Engineering Program, University of Houston, S222 Engineering Building 1, Houston, TX, USA. jcconrad@uh.edu
authors.forename: Jacinta C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Conrad
mesh_terms: D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000469:parasitology*; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion