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Spirillum

Spirillum

9.9
A large spiral-shaped type of bacteria that lives in still freshwater
  • noun
  • /spɪˈrɪləm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Spirillum
  • Researchers observed the spiral-shaped cells of Spirillum under the microscope.

Examples

  • Spirillum species are commonly found in stagnant freshwater environments.

  • The presence of Spirillum can indicate certain environmental conditions in water samples.

  • The Spirillum genus includes several species.

  • Did you study Spirillum in your microbiology class?

  • Spirillum species are commonly found in stagnant freshwater environments.

  • Researchers observed the spiral-shaped cells of Spirillum under the microscope.

  • The presence of Spirillum can indicate certain environmental conditions in water samples.

Compounds

spirillum fever
  • Specialized
9.9

A disease from rat bites that occurs in parts of East Asia

Spirillum minus
  • Specialized
9.9

A bacterium that causes rat-bite fever in people after a bite from a rat or mouse

Surface Forms

Spirillum singular
Spirilla plural

Etymology

Spirillum comes from the Latin root spir- meaning 'coil' or 'twist' and the ending -illum meaning 'little', and it shares the same root as spiral. So a Spirillum is like a 'little coil', which explains why these bacteria are small and spiral-shaped.