@article{mbs:/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-97-1-91, author = "Bradley, David E. and Cohen, Doris R.", title = "Basic Characterization of W-pili", journal= "Microbiology", year = "1976", volume = "97", number = "1", pages = "91-103", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-97-1-91", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-97-1-91", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2080", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "SUMMARY: The bacterial drug-resistance plasmids Sa, R388 and R7K that comprise the W compatibility group were transferred by conjugation to species in the genera Escherichia, Salmonella, Shigella and Pseudomonas, chosen for their lack of common pili. On receiving the W plasmids, all strains produced pili, which were similar morphologically, at average frequencies of up to 3·0 pili/cell. The pili determined by the W plasmids were also related serologically, but unrelated to those of other plasmids. R− segregant strains which had lost their plasmids showed a simultaneous loss of both pili and drug-resistance characteristics. W-pili are pointed flexible filaments 10 to 12 nm thick, with an average length of 450 nm. The best host found was Salmonella typhimurium. ", }