Rod-shaped

Rod-shaped bacteria are bacteria that are shaped like rods or cylinders. They are one of the many shapes that bacteria can have, and this shape is often related to their function and behavior in the environment.

Morphology

Rod-shaped bacteria, also known as bacilli, are typically a few micrometers in length and have a diameter of about 0.5-1.0 micrometer. They can exist as single cells, in pairs, or in chains. Some rod-shaped bacteria are curved or have a twisted shape, these are known as vibrios or spirilla respectively.

Examples

There are many different types of rod-shaped bacteria, including:

• Escherichia coli - a common bacterium found in the human gut.
• Bacillus subtilis - a bacterium that is commonly found in soil.
• Salmonella - a genus of bacteria that is a major cause of foodborne illness.
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa - a bacterium that is an opportunistic pathogen in humans.

Role in disease

Many rod-shaped bacteria are pathogenic, meaning they can cause disease. For example, Salmonella can cause food poisoning, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, is also rod-shaped.

See also

• Coccus
• Spirillum
• Bacterial morphology

References

Rod-shaped Resources
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