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Glite Dictionary
genus Treponema

genus Treponema

1 9.5
Spiral-shaped bacteria that live without oxygen and can cause disease in animals and humans
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs trɛpəˈniːmə/
  • Specialized
: género Treponema
  • Members of the genus Treponema are known for their distinctive spiral shape.

Examples

  • Researchers discovered a new strain within the genus Treponema that affects livestock.

  • The genus Treponema includes several pathogenic species.

  • The bacterium responsible for syphilis belongs to the genus Treponema.

  • Many studies focus on the genus Treponema in medical research.

  • The genus Treponema includes bacteria responsible for serious diseases in humans, such as syphilis.

  • Scientists study the genus Treponema to understand its role in various infectious diseases.

  • Infections caused by the genus Treponema can lead to severe health problems in infected individuals.

Synonyms

treponema
vsgenus Treponema
  • Specialized
1 9.7

A type of spiral-shaped bacteria that causes diseases like syphilis and yaws in humans

focuses on anaerobic, parasitic species in warm-blooded animals causing diseases such as syphilis

Surface Forms

genus Treponema singular
genera Treponema plural

Morphology

genus + treponema

This is a straightforward taxonomic noun phrase: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with the name 'Treponema' (a genus of spiral bacteria). A B1 learner who knows both constituents can directly derive that this refers to the bacterial genus Treponema, since this compositional pattern is literal and common in scientific naming.

Etymology

Genus Treponema comes from old Greek words: Treponema is made of trepo meaning 'to turn' and nema meaning 'thread'. So the name describes the long, turning 'thread' shape of the spiral bacteria in this group, including the one that causes syphilis.