• Glide on solid surfaces and lyse other bacteria in order to obtain nutrient.

 

• Excrete extracellular hydrolytic enzymes that break down living or dead microbial cells or hydrolyse large and insoluble macromolecules such as nucleic acids, protein and polysaccharides.

 

• Secrete various antibiotics that aid the process of degrading and digesting other prey bacteria

 

• Two modes of motility(Martin,2007):

 

       Move as an individual cell, controlled by the ‘A’ (adventurous) gene

 

               - Cells generate propulsive force by extruding slime from nozzle-like organelles at the posterior pole.

 

               - As the slime hydrates, the pressure generated pushed the cells forward.

 

     

       Move as a swarm alongside with other cells which is controlled by the ‘S’ (social) gene.

               

               - Type 4 pili extend from the forward pole, attach to fibrils secreted by nearby cells, and retract, pulling the cell forward                                       (Wolgemuth et al., 2002).

 

 

• Produce extracellular slime and leave trail of slime behind as they glide across a solid surface

 

• Consecutive cells to follow the same direction of movement thus maintaining a ‘herd’ instinct while gliding (Perry et al., 2002)

 

• Manifests the high-cell density behavior of myxobacteria.