Anatomy

Sex Pili

Filamentous or elongated proteinaceous structures which extend from the cell surface in gram-negative bacteria that contain certain types of conjugative plasmid. These pili are the organs associated with genetic transfer and have essential roles in conjugation. Normally, only one or a few pili occur on a given donor cell. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed, p675) This preferred use of pili refers to the sexual appendage, to be distinguished from bacterial fimbriae (FIMBRIAE, BACTERIAL), also known as common pili, which are usually concerned with adhesion.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Filamentous or elongated proteinaceous structures which extend from the cell surface in gram-negative bacteria that contain certain types of conjugative plasmid. These pili are the organs associated with genetic transfer and have essential roles in conjugation. Normally, only one or a few pili occur on a given donor cell. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed, p675) This preferred use of pili refers to the sexual appendage, to be distinguished from bacterial fimbriae (FIMBRIAE, BACTERIAL), also known as common pili, which are usually concerned with adhesion.

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Classification

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See Also

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Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • Conjugative Pili
  • Pili, Conjugative
  • Pili, Sex
  • Sex Pilus
  • Conjugative Pilus
  • Pilus, Conjugative
  • Pilus, Sex

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

15 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, drug effects, enzymology, genetics, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, radiation effects, transplantation, ultrastructure, virology.

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Indexing Annotation

do not confuse with COMMON PILI see FIMBRIAE, BACTERIAL

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History Note

95

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Fimbriae, Bacterial (1980-1994)
  • specific bacteria/cytology (1969-1974)
  • specific bacteria/ultrastructure (1975-1979)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. A11w.284w.180.690
  2. A20.867

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Sex Pili. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D018933. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D018933
  2. Sex Pili. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q70074664