Borrelia burgdorferi belongs to which group of bacteria?

Prepare for the NBME Microbiology Test. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each query comes with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Borrelia burgdorferi belongs to which group of bacteria?

Explanation:
Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete, a slender, corkscrew-shaped bacterium with periplasmic flagella that give it a distinctive spiral motility. This group includes Treponema and Leptospira and is separate from both Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative diplococci, as well as from fungi. Spirochetes are bacteria (usually considered Gram-negative in staining), which explains why Borrelia burgdorferi is categorized with spirochetes rather than the other groups. This organism is what causes Lyme disease and is transmitted by ticks.

Borrelia burgdorferi is a spirochete, a slender, corkscrew-shaped bacterium with periplasmic flagella that give it a distinctive spiral motility. This group includes Treponema and Leptospira and is separate from both Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative diplococci, as well as from fungi. Spirochetes are bacteria (usually considered Gram-negative in staining), which explains why Borrelia burgdorferi is categorized with spirochetes rather than the other groups. This organism is what causes Lyme disease and is transmitted by ticks.

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