How do bacteria accomplish chemotaxis?

Sourav PanDecember 7, 2024

Answered

Chemotaxis is the movement of bacteria toward or away from a chemical stimulus. Bacteria use flagella to move. When bacteria sense a favorable chemical gradient (such as nutrients), they move toward it, a process known as positive chemotaxis. Conversely, when they sense harmful substances (e.g., toxins), they move away from the source in negative chemotaxis. This movement is directed by a series of biochemical pathways that involve receptors in the bacterial cell membrane, which detect changes in the concentration of attractants or repellents in the environment, leading to coordinated flagellar rotation and movement.