Huaxin Yu

Abstract The sheathed flagellum of Vibrio cholerae is a self-assembling membranous organelle that coordinates flagellar assembly, sheath biogenesis, and rapid rotation. Here, we determine in-situ near-atomic structures of the sheathed flagellar motor within intact cells. The motor anchors to the outer membrane through lipidated HL-rings without forming a membrane pore, thereby enabling flagellar assembly to drive sheath formation.

Abstract Bacteriophages must recognize host receptors and penetrate the host cell envelope to initiate infection. How the classic phage λ initiates infection is not yet understood. Here, we combine cryo–electron microscopy and tomography to visualize infection initiation by Ur-λ, the original λ isolate that uses side fibers to adsorb rapidly to Escherichia coli.

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