brucella
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of bacterium: A very small, rod-shaped (coccobacillus), Gram-negative bacterium that requires oxygen to live (aerobic). It is the cause of the infectious disease brucellosis in animals and humans.
- A potential biological weapon: Due to its ability to cause disease, it is classified as an agent that could be used in biological warfare or bioterrorism.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The veterinarian identified Brucella in the milk sample from the infected cow.
- Laboratory workers must take extreme precautions when handling Brucella cultures.
- The treaty aims to prevent the use of pathogens like Brucella as bioweapons.
Advanced Usage
- Scientific Classification: The term "Brucella" is also the name of the entire genus of these bacteria. Different species within this genus infect different animals (e.g., in cattle, in goats and sheep).
- The most common species causing human illness is Brucella melitensis.
Variants and Related Words
- Brucellosis (n): The disease caused by infection with bacteria. It is also known as Malta fever, Mediterranean fever, or undulant fever.
- Symptoms of brucellosis include fever, fatigue, and joint pain.
Synonyms
- Pathogen: A general term for any bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.
- Zoonotic agent: An infectious agent that can be transmitted from animals to humans. is a primary example.
Related Phrases
- Gram-negative coccobacillus: A standard microbiological description referring to its shape (short rod) and its reaction to a laboratory staining test (Gram stain), which is important for identification.
- Brucella is characterized as a Gram-negative coccobacillus.
Related Idioms
Noun
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an aerobic Gram-negative coccobacillus that causes brucellosis; can be used as a bioweapon
