What is the organ of adhesion in bacteria?

Appeared in: DSSSB 12 August 2024

Explanation

Fimbriae are short, numerous, hair-like appendages on the bacterial surface.
Their primary function is adhesion, which involves attaching to host cells, other bacteria, or inanimate surfaces.
This attachment is a crucial first step for many pathogenic bacteria to colonize a host and cause disease, preventing them from being washed away.
Fimbriae are considered a major virulence factor for this reason.

Option B: Flocculi are not a cellular organelle. The term describes the clumping or aggregation of microbial cells into visible masses, a phenomenon known as flocculation.
Option C: The primary function of flagella is motility, allowing the bacterium to move. While some flagella have a secondary adhesive role, their main purpose is propulsion, not adhesion.
Option D: A fibroid is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor that grows in the muscle layers of the uterus in humans. It has no connection to bacteriology.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Bacterial appendages and their functions helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding bacterial adhesion is critical in nursing as it explains how infections begin. Fimbriae allow bacteria like uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) to attach to bladder walls, causing urinary tract infections (UTIs).
By recognizing that adhesion is the first step, nurses can better appreciate interventions like proper catheter care and encouraging fluid intake, which help prevent bacteria from attaching and colonizing.
What if? If a pathogenic bacterium had flagella but lacked fimbriae, it would be motile and could travel to a potential infection site (like the bladder), but it would struggle to attach to the host cells. It would likely be flushed out by urine flow, making it significantly less capable of causing a UTI.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'organ of adhesion' and 'bacteria'.
This is a direct recall question about bacterial anatomy and function.
Access your knowledge of bacterial cell structures. Think about the different appendages a bacterium can have on its surface.
Differentiate between the functions of these appendages. Recall that flagella are for movement (motility) and fimbriae are for attachment (adhesion).
Evaluate the options. 'Fimbriae' directly matches the function of adhesion. 'Flagella' is for movement. 'Flocculi' and 'Fibroid' are incorrect terms in this context.
Select the option that correctly identifies the primary structure for adhesion.

Concept Tested & Keywords

qeAPlcHKLPOKIlDDpMEj-

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1007-1009

Practise the full DSSSB 12 August 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.