noun
- spiral-shaped bacteria that move by rotating and flexing their bodies
Usage: biology; microbiology
Examples
- Spirochetes are responsible for diseases like syphilis and Lyme disease.
- The laboratory identified spirochetes in the patient’s blood sample.
- These spiral-shaped spirochetes can penetrate tissue barriers.
- Spirochetes move through liquid environments by corkscrew-like motions.
- The microscope revealed the characteristic twisted shape of spirochetes.
- Certain spirochetes live harmlessly in the human mouth.
- Antibiotics are often effective against pathogenic spirochetes.