Which bacteria are spiral-shaped and associated with Lyme disease?

Which bacteria are spiral-shaped and associated with Lyme disease?

• A. Diplococci
• B. Bacilli
• C. Spirilla
• D. Staphylococci

Answer: (C)

Bacterial shapes help you connect structure to the disease they cause. Spiral-shaped bacteria are corkscrew-like, contrasted with diplococci (two round cells), bacilli (rod-shaped), and staphylococci (grape-like clusters of spheres). Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium that has a spiral form, a spirochete, which fits the description of a spiral-shaped organism. In this context, spirilla is the label used for spiral-shaped bacteria, so it’s the best match among the options. The key idea is recognizing that the shape described—spiral—points you toward spirilla as the correct category.

Bacterial shapes help you connect structure to the disease they cause. Spiral-shaped bacteria are corkscrew-like, contrasted with diplococci (two round cells), bacilli (rod-shaped), and staphylococci (grape-like clusters of spheres). Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium that has a spiral form, a spirochete, which fits the description of a spiral-shaped organism. In this context, spirilla is the label used for spiral-shaped bacteria, so it’s the best match among the options. The key idea is recognizing that the shape described—spiral—points you toward spirilla as the correct category.