Spirochaetales
Spirochaetales An order of bacteria in which the cells are slender, spiral in shape, and flexible, and 5–250μm long, depending on species. They are motile with rotating and flexing movements; their motility is due to periplasmic flagella (i.e. flagella that are sandwiched between the peptidoglycan and outer membrane layers of the cell wall). Species are aerobic, anaerobic, or facultatively anaerobic. They are chemo-organotrophs. There are 2 families, with several genera, including some important pathogens (e.g. Treponema pallidum), found in a wide range of habitats. Also, spirochaetes are involved in the symbiosis between termites and flagellate protozoa.
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Spirochaetales
