What is "spirillum"

Spirillum \Spi*ril"lum\, n. [NL., dim. of L. spira a coil.] (Biol.) A genus of common motile micro["o]rganisms ( Spirobacteria) having the form of spiral-shaped filaments. One species is said to be the cause of relapsing fever.

(plural spirilla), 1875, Modern Latin, diminutive of Latin spira (see spiral (adj.)). So called for their structure.

n. 1 Any of various aerobic bacteria of the genus (taxlink Spirillum genus noshow=1), having an elongated spiral form and bearing a tuft of flagella. 2 Any of various other spiral-shaped microorganisms.

1. n. spirally twisted elongate rodlike bacteria usually living in stagnant water

2. any flagellated aerobic bacteria having a spirally twisted rodlike form [syn: spirilla]

3. [also: spirilla (pl)]

Spirillum is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria within family Spirillaceae. There are two species in Spirillum with standing in nomenclature, Spirillum winogradskyi and Spirillum volutans. The taxonomic position of three other species provisionally bearing the Spirillum genus name ( Spirillum minus, Spirillum pleomorphum, and Spirillum pulli) is uncertain and these have no standing in nomenclature.