Spirillum facts for kids

Spirillum (say "spy-RIL-um") is a type of bacterium that looks like a spiral. Imagine a tiny corkscrew or a spring – that's the shape of a spirillum! Bacteria come in three main shapes, and spirillum is one of them. The other two are Coccus (round) and Bacillus (rod-shaped).

The word "Spirillum" is also the name of a specific group, or genus, of spiral-shaped bacteria. These bacteria are called Gram-negative, which is a way scientists classify them based on a special test. The Spirillum genus belongs to a larger group called the family Spirillaceae. There are two main types (species) within the Spirillum genus: Spirillum minus and Spirillum pulli.

What are Bacteria?

Bacteria are tiny living things, so small you need a powerful microscope to see them! They are everywhere – in the air, in the soil, in water, and even inside your body. Most bacteria are harmless, and many are actually very helpful, like those that help you digest food. Some can cause sickness, but scientists study them to understand how they work.

Different Shapes of Bacteria

Scientists group bacteria by their shapes because it helps them identify and understand them.

• Spirillum: These bacteria are shaped like a spiral or a corkscrew. They can move by spinning, like a tiny drill!
• Coccus: These are round or spherical bacteria, like tiny balls. They can sometimes stick together in chains or clusters.
• Bacillus: These bacteria are shaped like rods or cylinders. They often look like tiny sausages.

The Spirillum Genus

When we talk about the Spirillum genus, we're talking about a specific group of spiral bacteria. In biology, a "genus" is a way to group very similar living things together. These bacteria are known as Gram-negative. This means they don't hold a special purple dye when scientists do a test called a Gram stain. This test helps scientists figure out what kind of cell wall a bacterium has, which is important for understanding how to treat infections.

Spirillum minus

Spirillum minus is one of the two main species in the Spirillum genus. It's a very thin, spiral-shaped bacterium. Scientists have studied this bacterium because it can sometimes be found in animals like rats.

Spirillum pulli

Spirillum pulli is the other species in this genus. Like Spirillum minus, it has that distinctive spiral shape. Scientists continue to research these bacteria to learn more about their roles in nature and their characteristics.

See also

In Spanish: Espirilos para niños