identifier: METPO:1005036
label: lateral flagellation
definition: A motility phenotype in which flagella emerge from the lateral side of
  the cell.
trait_category: MORPHOLOGY
term_kind: CLASS
mapping_status: SEEDED
parent_traits:
- traitmech:000056
curation_history:
- timestamp: '2026-09-11T08:08:23Z'
  curator: seed_from_metpo
  action: SEEDED_FROM_METPO
  changes: imported from data/raw/metpo.owl (CLASS)
- timestamp: '2026-09-11T08:09:00Z'
  curator: codex
  action: ENRICHED_FROM_LITERATURE
  changes: Enriched the seeded METPO lateral flagellation phenotype with DOI-backed
    lateral-flagella evidence after a repository-wide duplicate review covering ignored
    and hidden files.
  llm_assisted: true
definition_source: DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00403.x
evidence:
- reference: DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00403.x
  snippet: These bacteria are able to express both a constitutive polar flagellum
    required for swimming motility and a separate lateral flagella system that is
    induced in viscous media or on surfaces and is essential for swarming motility.
  notes: Merino et al. review lateral flagella as a distinct, inducible flagellar
    system in bacteria with dual polar and lateral systems.
- reference: DOI:10.1128/jb.167.1.210-218.1986
  snippet: The polar flagellum is responsible for motility in a liquid environment
    (swimming), and the lateral flagella enable the bacteria to move over surfaces
    (swarming).
  notes: Belas et al. directly connect V. parahaemolyticus lateral flagella with surface
    swarming.
- reference: DOI:10.1128/jb.185.15.4508-4518.2003
  snippet: Multiple proton-driven lateral flagella enable translocation over surfaces
    (i.e., swarming).
  notes: Stewart and McCarter describe the lateral flagella of V. parahaemolyticus
    as surface-translocation organelles.
- reference: DOI:10.1128/jb.188.3.852-862.2006
  snippet: Mesophilic Aeromonas strains express a polar flagellum in all culture conditions,
    and certain strains produce lateral flagella on semisolid media or on surfaces.
  notes: Canals et al. show that lateral flagella are an Aeromonas trait as well as
    a Vibrio parahaemolyticus trait.
canonical_examples:
- taxon_id: NCBITaxon:670
  taxon_label: Vibrio parahaemolyticus
  note: Belas et al. describe V. parahaemolyticus as producing a polar swimming flagellum
    and lateral flagella that enable swarming on surfaces.
  reference: DOI:10.1128/jb.167.1.210-218.1986