F pilus


pilus

 [pi´lus] (L.) 1. hair. adj., adj pi´lial.2. one of the minute filamentous appendages of certain bacteria associated with antigenic properties and sex functions of the cell. Called also fimbria. adj., adj pi´liate.pi´li cunicula´ti a condition characterized by hairs" >burrowing hairs.F pilus in bacterial genetics, a hollow tubular pilus possessed by (male) F+ cells, the carrier of the F plasmid (fertility plasmid). It forms a connection with a (female) F− cell in bacterial conjugation to allow the transfer of genetic material.pi´li incarna´ti a condition characterized by hairs" >ingrown hairs.pi´li tor´ti a condition characterized by hairs" >twisted hairs.

F pi·lus

a structure responsible for attachment of individual male (F+) to female (F-) bacteria, forming conjugal pairs.