Plural of actinobacillus; rod-shaped bacteria of the actinobacillus genus that often form branching filaments.
From Greek 'aktis' (ray) + Latin 'bacillus' (rod). The 'actin-' prefix refers to the radiating, branching pattern bacteria may form under certain conditions.
These bacteria are sneaky pathogens that affect livestock and occasionally humans, and they're named for their ability to branch into ray-like filaments—the cattle industry loses millions annually to diseases these bacteria cause.
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