treponema

trep·o·ne·ma  (trp-nm)

n. pl. trep·o·ne·ma·ta (-m-t) or trep·o·ne·mas

Any of a group of spirochetes of the genus Treponema, including those that cause syphilis, pinta, and yaws.

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[New Latin Treponma, genus name : Greek trepein, to turn; see trep- in Indo-European roots + Greek nma, thread; see (s)n- in Indo-European roots.]

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trepo·nemal, trepo·nema·tous (-nm-ts) adj.

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treponema [ˌtrɛpəˈniːmə], treponeme [ˈtrɛpəniːm]

n pl -nemas, -nemata [-ˈniːmətə], -nemes

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Microbiology) any anaerobic spirochaete bacterium of the genus Treponema, such as T. pallidum which causes syphilis

[from New Latin, from Greek trepein to turn + nēma thread]

treponematous  [ˌtrɛpəˈnɛmətəs] adj

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

treponema - spirochete that causes disease in humans (e.g. syphilis and yaws) spirochaete, spirochete - parasitic or free-living bacteria; many pathogenic to humans and other animals genus Treponema - type genus of Treponemataceae: anaerobic spirochetes with an undulating rigid body; parasitic in warm-blooded animals