Desulfovibrio

noun

De·​sul·​fo·​vibrio

(ˌ)dēˌsəlfə+

: a genus of curved motile anaerobic bacteria rods (family Spirillaceae) that reduce sulfates to hydrogen sulfide and include at least one form (D. halohydrocarbonoclasticus) capable of increasing the flow of oil wells by raising the gas pressure and enlarging the flow channels in the rock

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from de- + sulfo- + vibrio

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