COLIBACILLUS Meaning and
Definition
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Colibacillus, also known as Escherichia coli (E. coli), is a gram-negative bacterium that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestines of warm-blooded organisms, including humans. Colibacillus is known to be a facultative anaerobe, which means it can survive both with and without oxygen.
The term "colibacillus" is often used to refer specifically to E. coli strains that are pathogenic and can cause various diseases in humans and animals. While the majority of E. coli strains are harmless and even beneficial for intestinal health, certain pathogenic strains can give rise to illnesses such as urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal infections, and bloodstream infections. These pathogenic strains often possess specific virulence factors, such as adhesion molecules and toxins, which allow them to colonize and infect various host tissues.
Colibacillus can be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated water or food, direct contact with infected individuals, or contact with contaminated surfaces. It is a significant pathogen in both healthcare and community settings, and its presence is monitored in public health and food safety efforts.
In microbiology, colibacillus is commonly used as an indicator organism to assess water and food quality, as the presence of E. coli in these environments suggests fecal contamination and potential risk for disease transmission. Additionally, the study of colibacillus has contributed to advancements in genetic and molecular research due to its well-characterized genome and ease of manipulation in the laboratory.
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Colon bacillus, Bacillus coli.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for COLIBACILLUS
- xolibacillus
- volibacillus
- folibacillus
- dolibacillus
- cilibacillus
- cklibacillus
- cllibacillus
- cplibacillus
- c0libacillus
- c9libacillus
- cokibacillus
- copibacillus
- cooibacillus
- colubacillus
- coljbacillus
- colkbacillus
- colobacillus
- col9bacillus
- col8bacillus
- colivacillus
Etymology of COLIBACILLUS
The word "colibacillus" is derived from two main components: "coli", referring to the bacterium Escherichia coli, and "bacillus", meaning a rod-shaped bacterium.
The term "Escherichia coli" pays tribute to the German pediatrician and bacteriologist, Theodor Escherich, who first discovered this particular bacterium. He named it after himself, using the Latinized form of his name, "Escherichia", and the word "coli", derived from the Greek word "kólon" meaning "colon" since it's commonly found in the intestines, particularly in the colon.
"Bacillus" is a Latin word meaning "small rod". It has been historically used to describe various rod-shaped bacteria, including Escherichia coli.
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