How bacteria grow and divide while retaining a defined shape is a fundamental question in
microbiology, but technological advances are now driving a new understanding of how the …

Almost all bacteria and many archaea contain genes whose expression inhibits cell growth
and may lead to cell death when overproduced, reminiscent of apoptotic genes in higher …

The importance of the cell wall to the viability of the bacterium is underscored by the breadth
of antibiotic structures that act by blocking key enzymes that are tasked with cell-wall …

Many cell division-related proteins are located at specific positions in the bacterial cell, and
this organized distribution of proteins requires energy. Here, we report that the proton motive …

The peptidoglycan cell wall and the actin-like MreB cytoskeleton are major determinants of
cell shape in rod-shaped bacteria. The prevailing model postulates that helical, membrane …

The ability to detect single molecules in live bacterial cells enables us to probe biological
events one molecule at a time and thereby gain knowledge of the activities of intracellular …

The genus Mycobacterium is best known for its two major pathogenic species, M.
tuberculosis and M. leprae, the causative agents of two of the world's oldest diseases …

Magnetosomes are membranous bacterial organelles sharing many features of eukaryotic
organelles. Using electron cryotomography, we found that magnetosomes are invaginations …

Cells typically maintain characteristic shapes, but the mechanisms of self-organization for
robust morphological maintenance remain unclear in most systems. Precise regulation of …

Spatial organization is a hallmark of all living systems. Even bacteria, the smallest forms of
cellular life, display defined shapes and complex internal organization, showcasing a highly …