treponema

noun

trep·​o·​ne·​ma ˌtre-pə-ˈnē-mə 

plural treponemata ˌtre-pə-ˈnē-mə-tə  or treponemas

: any of a genus (Treponema) of spirochetes that are pathogenic in humans and other warm-blooded animals and include the causative agents of syphilis and yaws

treponemal

ˌtre-pə-ˈnē-məl 

adjective

Examples of treponema in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her own research has led her to suspect that the treponema bacteria originated in the New World, manifesting as yaws and spread through skin-to-skin contact exposed by a warm climate. —National Geographic, 21 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Treponemat-, Treponema, from Greek trepein to turn + nēma thread, from nēn to spin — more at needle

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

treponema

noun

trep·​o·​ne·​ma ˌtrep-ə-ˈnē-mə 

1

capitalized : a genus of the family Spirochaetaceae comprising anaerobic spirochetes that are pathogenic in humans and other warm-blooded animals and include one (T. pallidum) causing syphilis and another (T. pertenue) causing yaws

2

plural treponemata -mət-ə  or treponemas : any spirochete of the genus Treponema