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Klebs-Loeffler bacillus

Klebs-Loeffler bacillus

9.9
A type of germ that causes the disease diphtheria, often in the throat
  • noun
  • /ˈklɛbz ˈlɛfələr bəˈsɪləs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : bacilo de Klebs-Loeffler
  • The Klebs-Loeffler bacillus is known for causing diphtheria.

Examples

  • Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection by the Klebs-Loeffler bacillus.

  • Infected individuals may carry the Klebs-Loeffler bacillus without symptoms.

  • Doctors identified the presence of Klebs-Loeffler bacillus in the patient's throat sample.

  • The discovery of the Klebs-Loeffler bacillus marked a turning point in understanding diphtheria.

  • Doctors identified the presence of Klebs-Loeffler bacillus in the patient's throat sample.

  • The discovery of the Klebs-Loeffler bacillus marked a turning point in understanding diphtheria.

  • Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection by the Klebs-Loeffler bacillus.

Synonyms

Corynebacterium diphtheriae
vsKlebs-Loeffler bacillus
  • Specialized
8.9

A type of bacteria that causes diphtheria in people

is identical in meaning but given with an alternative name in parentheses
C. diphtheriae
vsKlebs-Loeffler bacillus
  • Specialized
9.5

A type of bacteria that causes diphtheria in people

is identical in meaning but written as the full scientific name

Surface Forms

Morphology

Klebs-Loeffler + bacillus

The head noun 'bacillus' clearly denotes a rod-shaped bacterium, and 'Klebs-Loeffler' functions as an eponymic proper name; together they transparently indicate a bacterium named after Klebs and Loeffler. A B1 learner who recognises proper-name naming conventions and knows the word 'bacillus' can infer it refers to a species of bacterium (though the specific link to diphtheria is factual knowledge beyond the compositional meaning).

Etymology

Klebs-Loeffler bacillus The name Klebs-Loeffler bacillus comes from two doctors, Klebs and Loeffler, who discovered the tiny germ in the throats of sick people long ago. That's why the name now means the bacillus that causes 'diphtheria'.