spirochetes
Corkscrew-shaped microbes
Spirochetes are a group of spiral-shaped bacteria that move with a distinctive corkscrew motion.
Several cause serious diseases in humans: syphilis, Lyme disease, and leptospirosis among them.
The name reflects their appearance—tightly coiled, flexible organisms visible under microscopy.
Blood tests revealed spirochetes consistent with Lyme infection.
Tool for opening bottles
- helicalShaped like a coil
- spiralCurve winding around center
- coiledArranged in spirals
- flexibleAble to bend freely
slender · elongated · waveform · amplitude · wavelength · motile · undulating · rotation
Spirochete-caused venereal infection
- leptospirosisBacterial illness from contaminated water
- yawsTropical bacterial infection
- pintaInformal milk portion
- chancrePainless sexually-transmitted ulcer
carditis · arthritis · meningitis · encephalitis · disseminated · latent · tertiary · secondary
Fungus-derived infection fighter
- doxycyclineTetracycline-class antimicrobial medication
- azithromycinMacrolide antibacterial medication
- antibioticsBacteria-destroying medicines
- intramuscularInto muscle tissue
Organisms without membrane-bound nuclei
- motilitySelf-generated movement capacity
- flagellaWhiplike locomotion appendages
- cytoplasmGel surrounding the nucleus
- chemotaxisMovement toward chemical cues
cultivation · fastidious · genomics · taxonomy · phylogeny · metabolism · morphology · anaerobic
corkscrew
Tool for opening bottles
flexible · slender · elongated · waveform · amplitude · wavelength · motile · undulating · rotation · serpentine
syphilis
Spirochete-caused venereal infection
- leptospirosisBacterial illness from contaminated water
- yawsTropical bacterial infection
- pintaInformal milk portion
chancre · carditis · arthritis · meningitis · encephalitis · disseminated · latent · tertiary · secondary · primary
penicillin
Fungus-derived infection fighter
- doxycyclineTetracycline-class antimicrobial medication
- azithromycinMacrolide antibacterial medication
- antibioticsBacteria-destroying medicines
intramuscular · intravenous · prophylaxis · resistance · eradication
prokaryotes
Organisms without membrane-bound nuclei
- motilitySelf-generated movement capacity
- flagellaWhiplike locomotion appendages
- cytoplasmGel surrounding the nucleus
chemotaxis · cultivation · fastidious · genomics · taxonomy · phylogeny · metabolism · morphology · anaerobic · pathogenic
serology
Study of blood antibodies
- microbiologybacteria, bacterium, microbe, microbes, microorganisms
- bacteriaE. coli, Clostridium, Salmonella, salmonella, Pseudomonas
- Pathogenspathogen, germ, germs, bacteria, bacterium
- oral pathogens
- SpirochetesTreponema pallidum
- AnaerobesClostridium, Bifidobacterium, bifidobacteria, fermenters, fermenter
spirochetescocci
Sphere-shaped bacteria
bacilli · rods · streptococci · staphylococci