spirochaete

 
Pronunciation: /ˈspʌɪrə(ʊ)kiːt/
(US spirochete)

noun

  • a flexible spirally twisted bacterium, especially one that causes syphilis.
    • Treponema and other genera, order Spirochaetales; Gram-negative

Origin:

late 19th century: from spiro-1 'in a spiral' + Greek khaitē 'long hair'