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Glite Dictionary
Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

8.9
A type of bacteria that causes diphtheria in people
  • noun
  • /ˌkɔːrɪnɪˈbæktɪriəm dɪfˈθɪəriˌeɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Corynebacterium diphtheriae
  • The bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae is responsible for diphtheria.

Examples

  • Corynebacterium diphtheriae is responsible for causing acute cases of diphtheria worldwide.

  • The vaccine protects individuals from infection by Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

  • Doctors confirmed that the bacteria found in the patient's throat was Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

  • Infections caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae can be severe.

  • Corynebacterium diphtheriae is responsible for causing acute cases of diphtheria worldwide.

  • Doctors confirmed that the bacteria found in the patient's throat was Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

  • The vaccine protects individuals from infection by Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Synonyms

C. diphtheriae
vsCorynebacterium diphtheriae
  • Specialized
9.5

A type of bacteria that causes diphtheria in people

is the full formal species name rather than the shortened form
Klebs-Loeffler bacillus
vsCorynebacterium diphtheriae
  • Archaic
9.9

A type of germ that causes the disease diphtheria, often in the throat

is the formal species name used now instead of the older honoring name

Surface Forms

Corynebacterium diphtheriae singular

Morphology

Corynebacterium + diphtheriae

This is a taxonomic binomial combining the genus name 'Corynebacterium' (a type of bacterium) with a Latinized species epithet 'diphtheriae' that signals association with diphtheria; a learner who recognizes the disease root could infer it names the bacterium responsible for diphtheria. However, the Latinized form and the need for knowledge of scientific naming conventions make the link specialized and not fully predictable for an average B1 learner without domain knowledge.

Etymology

Corynebacterium diphtheriae gets its name from old Greek words: coryne meaning 'club' because the bacterium cells look like small clubs, and diphtheriae from 'diphthera' meaning 'leather' for the thick, leathery membrane that forms in the throat during diphtheria. So the name paints a simple picture of the germ that causes diphtheria.