Other Types of Bacteria

Curved, spiral and filamentous bacteria

Some bacteria may have other, often characteristic shapes. For example, the bacteria in a shape of a "spirochete" form a separate group, called just Spirochetes. These include some of the bacteria that cause serious diseases such as Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) and syphilis (Treponema pallidum). The Vibrio shape has for instance Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. Spirila shaped Helicobacter pylori live in our stomach and its occurrence is associated with gastric ulcers. Whereas filamentous bacterium of Candidatus species scientists discovered in the stomachs of rodents.