Flavobacterium gliding motility and the type IX secretion system

- Many members of the Bacteroidetes, including F. johnsoniae, exhibit rapid gliding.
- Rapid movement of the adhesin SprB along the cell surface results in cell gliding.
- SprB appears to travel on a closed helical loop.
- SprB is delivered to the cell surface by the type IX secretion system (T9SS).
- T9SSs are confined to but common in the phylum Bacteroidetes.