Definition

1. Noun:
   • A comma-shaped bacterium that causes Asiatic cholera: "Comma bacillus" is a specific, historical term for the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which has a curved, comma-like shape under a microscope and is the causative agent of the infectious disease cholera, particularly associated with outbreaks in Asia.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The discovery of the comma bacillus by Robert Koch was a milestone in understanding cholera.
  • Under the microscope, the characteristic shape of the comma bacillus is clearly visible.

Advanced Usage

• The term "comma bacillus" is primarily used in historical and microbiological contexts. In modern scientific literature, the organism is almost exclusively referred to by its binomial name, .
  • Historical texts on 19th-century medicine often reference the "comma bacillus."

Variants and Related Words

• Vibrio cholerae (n): The modern scientific name for the cholera bacterium.
  • The genome of Vibrio cholerae has been fully sequenced.
• Vibrio (n): The genus of curved, rod-shaped bacteria to which the cholera bacterium belongs.
  • Other Vibrio species can cause seafood-borne illnesses.

Synonyms

• Vibrio cholerae: The formal, scientific synonym.
• Cholera bacterium: A more general descriptive term.

Related Phrases

• Comma-shaped bacterium: A descriptive phrase highlighting the microorganism's morphology.
  • The water sample was tested for comma-shaped bacteria.

Related Idioms

Noun

1. comma-shaped bacteria that cause Asiatic cholera