Spirochaetes are characterized by the presence of a double­membrane
and long, spiral­shaped cells that are chemoheterotrophic.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE [ edit ]
Outline the characteristics associated with spirochaetes and the associated diseases
KEY POINTS [ edit ]
Spirochaetes are chemoheterotrophic in nature and capable of thriving in anaerobic conditions.
The spirochaetes are categorized by the presence of axial filaments which run lengthwise between
the inner and outermembranes in periplasmic space.
Spirochaetes are capable of causing diseases includingleptospirosis, Lyme disease, relapsing fever
and syphilis.
TERM [ edit ]
periplasmic
surrounding the plasma of a bacterium
Give us feedback on this content: FULL TEXT [ edit ]
The spirochaetes belong to a phylum of distinctive double­membrane bacteria that are
characterized by their long, spiral­shaped cells. The spirochaetes are chemoheterotrophic in
nature, free­living and capable of thriving in anaerobic environments. They are often
distinguished from other bacterial phyla by the location of their flagella. The flagella, in
spirochaetes, runs lengthwise between the inner and outer membranes in the periplasmic
space. Often referred to as axial filaments, there is a twisting motion that occurs which allows
the spirochaete to move. During reproduction, the spirochaete is capable of undergoing
asexual reproduction viabinary fission.
The binary fission allows for production of
two separate spirochaetes.
The spirochaetes can be divided into three
families which
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include: Brachyspiraceae, Leptospiraceae, andSpirochaetaceae. These families are all
categorized under a single order, Spirochaetales. There are specific species of spirochaetes
that are considered to be pathogenic. Some of the pathogenic species include:
Leptospira, the cause of leptospirosis ­ leptospirosis is transmitted to humans from
animals and a common form of transmission is by allowing contaminated water to come
in contact with unhealed breaks in the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. The water
becomes contaminated by coming into contact with the urine of an infected animal.
Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii, the cause of lyme­disease
Borrelia recurrentis, the cause of relapsing fever
Treponema pallidum, subspecies pallidum, the cause of syphilis
Treponema pallidum, subspecies pertenue, the cause of yaws (tropical infection of the
skin, bones and joints)
Brachyspira pilosicoli and Brachyspira aalborgi, the cause of intestinal spirochetosis