spirochaeta

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• n. A genus of Spirobacteria similar to Spirillum, but distinguished by its motility. One species, the Spirochæte Obermeyeri, is supposed to be the cause of relapsing fever.

from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

• n. A genus of Schizomycetes or bacteria, having the cells united in long slender threads which usually show narrow spiral windings.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• n. the type genus of the family Spirochaetaceae; a bacterium that is flexible, undulating, and chiefly aquatic