Brucella

/bruːˈsɛlə/ noun

Definition

A type of rod-shaped bacterium that causes brucellosis, a disease spread from animals to humans.

Etymology

Named after Sir David Bruce, a Scottish bacteriologist who discovered the organism in 1887 while investigating disease in Malta. The Latinized suffix '-ella' indicates a small bacterium.

Kelly Says

Brucella bacteria are so tough they can survive inside human immune cells by pretending to be harmless—it's like a biological disguise that allows the infection to hide for months or even years.

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