pilimediated
Pilimediated is a term used to describe processes or interactions in which bacterial pili act as the primary mediators. Pili are filamentous surface structures found on many bacteria and some archaea. Through pilimediated interactions, cells can adhere to surfaces or other cells, exchange genetic material, or move along surfaces—effects that rely on the presence and dynamics of pili rather than other adhesive or motile apparatus.
Most well-studied pili belong to the family of type IV pili, composed of pilin proteins assembled by
Pilmediated functions include conjugation, where a pilus forms a bridge for DNA transfer between bacteria (as
The term pilimediated is used to describe these processes in a concise way, but its usage is