Two major structures that allow bacteria to adhere to surfaces are ___ and ___.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fimbriae and capsules are two structures that allow bacteria to adhere to surfaces. Fimbriae are short, numerous, hair-like structures that extend from the bacterial cell surface and aid in attachment to surfaces. Capsules are slimy, protective layers that surround the bacterial cell and help to adhere to surfaces by preventing desiccation and immune system recognition. Pili are longer structures used for conjugation, while ribosomes, lipopolysaccharides, teichoic acids, actin filaments, phospholipid membranes, endospores, and metachromatic granules do not play a major role in bacterial adherence.

Two Major Structures That Allow Bacteria to Adhere to Surfaces