What term describes bacteria that are spiral shaped?

The term that describes bacteria that are spiral shaped is indeed characterized by the options listed as Vibrio, spirillum, and spirochete. These are classifications based on the specific morphological shapes of bacteria.

Vibrio refers to bacteria that are curved or comma-shaped. Spirillum describes a rigid, spiral-shaped bacterium, whereas spirochetes are more flexible and can have a tighter spiral structure. This classification is important in microbiology because the shape of bacteria can influence their behavior, ecological niche, and methods of movement, as well as their response to different antibiotics. Understanding these shapes is fundamental in identifying bacteria in laboratory settings and can aid in diagnosing infections and determining appropriate treatments.

In contrast, cocci are spherical-shaped bacteria, bacilli are rod-shaped, and filamentous refers to bacteria that form long, thread-like structures. While all these forms are important in microbiology, they do not pertain to spiral-shaped bacteria.