Bacteria come in a wide variety of shapes, which are important for their fitness in their respective ecological niches. However, despite intensive research, the factors that determine the shape of ...

Bacteria come in a surprising variety of shapes: the more commonly known are coccus, bacillus. But curved cell shapes are also widespread among bacteria and important for cellular motility, virulence, ...

Scientists have long known that bacteria come in many shapes and sizes, but understanding what those differences mean has remained a major challenge, especially for species that can't be grown in the ...

Scientists have found that Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a key gut microbe, changes its size and shape in response to its environment. Each different microbe form is linked to specific genetic ...

Let’s say it’s 2036, and scientists are working on a new class of drugs. Today, for instance, pharmaceutical companies use ...

A bacterial cell settles onto a nondescript surface. It is plump, healthy and functioning as it should. Nothing appears amiss ...