Motile bacteria either swim, by using flagella, or glide over surfaces by mechanisms that remain a mystery. Bacteria that glide can move towards or away from a variety of stimuli, including chemicals and light.

How do motile bacteria swim?

During swimming motility, peritrichous flagella on one cell coalesce into a bundle and rotate to propel the bacterium as a run. A swimming cell tumbles when as few as a single flagellum changes direction of rotation.

Can motile move on their own?

Bacterial motility is the ability of bacteria to move independently using metabolic energy.