Spirochaete
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Leptospira spirochaetes under scanning electron microscope
Spirochaetes (or Spirochetes) are the phylum Spirochaetae. These are double-membrane bacteria with long, helically coiled (spiral-shaped) cells.
Spirochaetes are bacteria. They have flagella, which run lengthwise between the cell wall and outer membrane. The flagella cause a twisting motion which moves the spirochaete about.
Most spirochaetes are free-living and anaerobic, but there are many parasitic species.
Classification
The spirochaetes are divided into three families (Brachyspiraceae, Leptospiraceae, and Spirochaetaceae). They are all put in a single order, the Spirochaetales. Disease-causing members of this phylum include:
- Leptospira species, some of which cause leptospirosis[1]
- Borrelia species, some of which cause Lyme disease
- Borrelia recurrentis, which causes relapsing fever.[2]
- Treponema pallidum subspecies which cause syphilis and yaws.
- Brachyspira species, which cause intestinal spirochaetosis.[3]
Spirochaete Media
Cross section of a spirochaete cell
References
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers at line 630: attempt to index field 'known_free_doi_registrants_t' (a nil value).
- ↑ Schwan T (1996). "Ticks and Borrelia: model systems for investigating pathogen-arthropod interactions". Infect Agents Dis. 5 (3): 167–81. PMID 8805079.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers at line 630: attempt to index field 'known_free_doi_registrants_t' (a nil value).
Other websites
- Introduction to the Spirochetes. UCMP. [1]