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Glite Dictionary
Tropheryma whipplei

Tropheryma whipplei

9.9
A kind of bacteria that lives in people and in the environment and can cause Whipple's disease
  • noun
  • /trəˈfɛrɪmə ˈwɪpəlaɪ/
  • Specialized
: Tropheryma whipplei
  • Tropheryma whipplei is a bacterium that can lead to a serious condition known as Whipple's disease.

Examples

  • Doctors tested the patient for Tropheryma whipplei to confirm the diagnosis of Whipple's disease.

  • Tropheryma whipplei, which causes Whipple disease, has been detected in 4% of fecal samples from the general adult population of France.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Researchers found Tropheryma whipplei in various environments, including soil and water samples.

Surface Forms

Tropheryma whipplei singular

Morphology

Tropheryma + whipplei

This is a Latin binomial taxonomic name composed of non-lexical, proper-name elements (not ordinary English morphemes) so its meaning as a bacterium causing Whipple's disease cannot be derived from the parts. An average B1 learner who 'knows' the constituent strings would not be able to infer the biomedical sense or pathogenic role from these elements, making the expression essentially arbitrary and unpredictable.

Etymology

Tropheryma whipplei gets its name from a descriptive first part and a doctor's name: the first part, Tropheryma, comes from words about feeding because this bacterium affects the gut, and whipplei honors Dr Whipple, who first described 'Whipple's disease'. So the name points to the germ that causes that disease.