Myxococcus
/ˌmɪksə(ʊ)ˈkɒkəs/Microbiology
noun
A genus of myxobacteria having slender, tapering vegetative cells and spherical or oval encapsulated resting cells (microcysts) that are not enclosed in a sporangium; (also myxococcus) a myxobacterium of this genus.
Origin
Late 19th century. From scientific Latin Myxococcus from myxo- + coccus.