Fusobacterium

/ˌfjuːzoʊbækˈtɪriəm/ noun

Definition

A genus of gram-negative anaerobic rod-shaped bacteria found in human oral cavities and gastrointestinal tracts, sometimes pathogenic.

Etymology

From Latin fusus (spindle-shaped) plus bacterium (rod-shaped organism). Scientific naming reflects the spindle appearance of these bacteria under magnification.

Kelly Says

Fusobacterium nucleatum is so common in human mouths that scientists consider it a marker of dental health—finding it tells you your microbial ecosystem is thriving in exactly the way evolution designed it.

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