Fig. 4 Flagellum mechanical induction[43]
Bacteria can also swim by rotating one or more flagella, allowing them to reach speeds that exceed the length of many cell bodies per second[44]. When the flagellum rotates counterclockwise, it generates a thrust that causes the bacteria to ’run’ forward. In contrast, when the flagellum rotates clockwise to produce a ’tumble,’ it inhibits the bacteria from swimming forward. In contrast, the swimming bacteria can regulate the counterclockwise/clockwise rotation of the flagellum through a complex signal [45], as shown in Figure 4 [43]. clockwise rotation[45], as shown in Figure 4[43].
The flagellar mechanosensing of bacteria is associated with the inhibition of flagellar rotation, with initial cell-surface ’binding’ occurring through the flagellum and surface contact, causing the flagellar cycle to cease as the cell approaches the surface, resulting in the timely production of polysaccharide adhesins that cause bacteria to adhere to the surface, mediating the transition from reversible to irreversible adhesion [33], thereby promoting bacterial adhesion.