genus Borrelia

9.5

Small spiral bacteria that can cause Lyme disease and other infections, often spread by ticks

noun
/ˈdʒɛnəs bɔˈrɛliə/

Specialized

: género Borrelia

The genus Borrelia includes bacteria responsible for Lyme disease and other infections.

Examples

The genus Borrelia includes several species that can infect humans.
Scientists are studying the genus Borrelia to better understand its transmission by ticks.
Symptoms of relapsing fever are caused by spirochetes in the genus Borrelia.
Scientists are studying the genus Borrelia to understand its behavior.
The genus Borrelia includes bacteria responsible for Lyme disease and other infections.
Symptoms of relapsing fever are caused by spirochetes in the genus Borrelia.
Scientists are studying the genus Borrelia to better understand its transmission by ticks.

Synonyms

borrelia

vsgenus Borrelia

Specialized

1 9.9

Spiral-shaped bacteria that can cause disease in humans, often spread by ticks

adds precise morphology and mentions additional diseases like Lyme disease

Surface Forms

genus Borrelia singular

genera Borrelia plural

Morphology

genus + borrelia

This is a fully compositional noun phrase: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with the name 'Borrelia' yields the meaning 'the genus called Borrelia' (a group of related species). The taxonomic construction 'genus + name' is a regular, cross-linguistic pattern, so a learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Genus Borrelia is named after the French scientist Amédée Borrel, because genus means a group and Borrelia records his name. These bacteria are thin, bendy spirals like tiny corkscrews, so the name now points to that group of spiral germs that 'cause Lyme disease and relapsing fever'.