Question #4645d
1 Answer
Nov 26, 2017
Fimbriae and pili are both filaments that grow out of a bacterial cell, but there are many differences as well.
Explanation:
Here are some major differences:
FIMBRIAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PILI
Similar to bristles . . . . . . . Similar to hairs
Shorter than pili . . . . . . . . Longer than fimbriae
200 - 400 per cell . . . . . . 0 - 10 per cell
Gram + and Gram⎯ . . . . . Gram⎯ only
Here is a diagram showing a bacterial cell with fimbriae and pili
http://www.microbiologynotes.com/differences-between-fimbriae-and-pili/
Here is the rest of that helpful website, which lists many more differences:
http://www.microbiologynotes.com/differences-between-fimbriae-and-pili/