Plural of coccobacillus; bacteria that are intermediate in shape between cocci and bacilli, appearing roughly spherical to slightly rod-like.
From 'coccus' (round bacterium) plus 'bacillus' (rod-shaped bacterium) plus Latin '-i' (plural), describing bacteria with mixed features.
Some of the most dangerous human pathogens are coccobaccilli, including the bacteria that causes pertussis (whooping cough) and brucellosis, and their unusual shape actually makes them harder for immune cells to destroy.
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