Spirochete (noun)

1. A spiral-shaped bacterium, especially one of the species that cause diseases such as syphilis and Lyme disease.
2. A type of bacterium characterized by its distinctive spiral shape.

Origin:

Late 19th century: from greek speira "coil" + chete "a worm".

Examples:

1. Spirochetes are transmitted from animals to humans through the bite of infected ticks.
2. Spirochetes are one of the causes of Lyme disease, a bacterial infection.
3. The spirochetes were first observed under a microscope in the late 19th century.
4. Spirochetes are difficult to culture in a laboratory and are challenging to treat.
5. Spirochetes are a type of bacteria that are particularly adaptable and able to evade the immune system.