Coccobacillus (Noun)
Meaning
A bacterial cell intermediate in morphology between a coccus and a bacillus; a very short bacillus.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Coccobacillus is a critical type of bacteria associated with several diseases, and it often exhibits morphological variation depending on environmental conditions.
- Under a microscope, Haemophilus influenzae appears as a coccobacillus, and the dimensions of the cells can affect their identification.
- The coccobacillus shape makes it easier to mistake certain microorganisms for other bacterial species that have a different pathogenesis.
- Several species of the genus Moraxella are known to have a coccobacillus morphology, and their growth requirements may also vary.
- Microscopists often encounter difficulty in classifying bacterial species because coccobacillus can resemble both coccus and bacillus in shape and size.