spiro-
(ˈspaɪrəʊ)
1. Combining form of L. spīra, Gr. σπεῖρα spire n.3, used in a number of scientific terms, as spirobacˈteria, bacteria with spirally twisted cells; Spirochæte (ˈspaɪrəʊkiːt) (also -chet- in this word and its derivatives): a genus of bacteria having a highly twisted spiral form; in mod. use, any bacterium of the order Spirochætales, comprising actively motile non-spore-forming organisms having a helical form; hence spiroˈchætal a., that is a spirochæte; caused by spirochætes; ˌspirochætiˈcidal a., lethal to spirochætes; spiroˈchæticide a spirochæticidal substance; spirochæˈtosis, infection with or a disease caused by spirochætes.
| 1876 tr. Wagner's Gen. Pathol. 93 *Spirobacteria are distinguished from vibrio, by the closer and narrower, regular, permanent spiral of the filament. |
| 1916 Jrnl. Exper. Med. XXIII. 377 We discovered a *spirochætal microorganism which is now believed to be the cause [of Weil's disease]. 1922 Encycl. Brit. XXXI. 906/1 It is best described as spirochætal jaundice rather than by the older name of Weil's disease. 1969 Edington & Gilles Path. in Tropics vii. 298 Leptospirosis is caused by infection with spirochaetal organisms. |
| 1877 Huxley & Martin Elem. Biol. 29 *Spirochæte. Much like spirillum, but longer and with a much more closely rolled spiral. 1899 tr. Jaksch's Clin. Diagnosis vi. 206 Mobile swarms are seen in the centre of the mass, while at its circumference appear the spirochæte-like bodies. 1908 Practitioner Oct. 549 The treponema, or, as they are usually designated in this country, the spirochaetes. 1919 Chambers's Jrnl. June 415/2 This organism belongs to the class known as spirochaetes, of which the spirochaete of syphilis and that of relapsing fever are other members. 1939 R. Campbell Flowering Rifle ii. 47 The fierce spirochete. 1973 R. G. Krueger et al. Introd. Microbiol. iii. 59/1 The order is subdivided into two families: Spirochaetaceae for the larger..spirochaetes, which are free-living or parasitic in shellfish; and Treponemataceae for spirochetes that are only about 0·2–0·3 µm in diameter and do not exceed 16 µm in length. |
| 1913 Jrnl. Exper. Med. XVIII. 435 (heading) A study of the *spirochæticidal action of the serum of patients treated with Salvarsan. 1949 M. A. Jennings in H. W. Florey et al. Antibiotics II. xxxi. 1037 Penicillin possessed some spirocheticidal activity. |
| 1920 Jrnl. Amer. Med. Assoc. 25 Dec. 1768/1 The efficacy of..*spirocheticides in the so-called chemical prophylaxis of syphilis is limited to a period of not more than eight hours after the spirochete has had the opportunity of invading the healthy person. |
| 1906 Jrnl. Hygiene VI. 580 (heading) *Spirochaetosis of mice due to Spirochaeta muris n.sp. in the blood. 1951 Whitby & Hynes Med. Bacteriol. (ed. 5) xxi. 350 Spirochætes and fusiform bacilli of Vincent's type may be found in large numbers in various conditions, particularly of the lung, known as spirochætosis. 1981 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 21 Nov. 1362/1 A review of 100 consecutive rectal biopsy specimens obtained from patients with rectal bleeding or diarrhoea showed that 10 had spirochaetosis. |
2. Chem. Formative element used in the names of organic compounds whose molecular structure includes two rings with a single atom (
usu. of carbon or nitrogen) common to both. Also in
Comb. or as
quasi-adj., as
spiro-compound. [Introduced in
Ger. (A. Baeyer 1900, in
Ber. d. Deut. Chem. Ges. XXXIII. 3771).]
| 1908 Chem. Abstr. II. 75 (heading) Spirocyclane. Ibid., The term ‘spiro’ is applied by the author to systems of two cycloids, having only one carbon atom in common. 1909 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. XCVI. i. 652 The product, decomposed by cold water, yields the spirocyclane derivative. 1915 Ibid. CVII. ii 1080 (heading) The formation and stability of spiro-compounds. 1932 Proc. R. Soc. A. CXXXIV. 359 The anhydrous crystals of racemic spiro-dihydantoin have a density of 1·94. 1960 Jrnl. Amer. Chem. Soc. LXXXII. 5560/1 According to the number of spiro atoms present, the compounds are distinguished as monospiro, dispiro, trispiro compounds etc. 1976 A. L. Ternay Contemp. Org. Chem. vii. 185 A spiro compound results when two rings share one atom. 1978 Nature 5 Jan. 44/2 During irradiation of spiropyrans, in non-polar solvents dimer and charge-transfer complexes are formed. 1978 Further Perspectives Org. Chem. (CIBA) 40 Evidence for the possible spiro intermediate would give enormous support and we are seeking it. |