You have discovered a new bacterial strain that causes urinary tract infections. Closely related bacterial species cannot cause infections. You compare the strains and find that your new strain has structures composed of protein external to its cell wall
What structures might your new strain have that the other strains do not? Why?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: Pili or fimbrae are the most likely structures that are found in the new pathogenic strain but missing in the nonpathogenic strains. Both pili and fimbrae aid in attachment of cells to surfaces and tissues. Attachment is important for pathogenesis. In addition, some pili are involved in twitching motility, which can help cells invade the body. (Other answers such as the capsule would only be partly correct, since the capsule is not made of protein. Flagella could also be an acceptable answer if they logically connect swimming motility to pathogenesis.)
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