Which of the following bacteria are rod-shaped and can cause diseases like tuberculosis?

Bacilli are a group of bacteria characterized by their rod-shaped structure. This distinctive shape allows them to be identified under the microscope, and many bacilli are significant because they can cause various diseases in humans. One of the most well-known diseases caused by bacilli is tuberculosis, which is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Understanding the morphology of bacteria is essential in microbiology, as it helps in diagnosing infections and determining the appropriate treatment. The rod shape of bacilli is instrumental in identifying them in laboratory settings, especially when using staining techniques like the Gram stain, which can differentiate between various types of bacteria based on their shape and cell wall composition.

The other categories mentioned, such as spirilla, cocci, and staphylococci, refer to different shapes and arrangements of bacteria. Spirilla are spiral-shaped, cocci are spherical, and staphylococci are spherical bacteria that form in clusters. While these other groups can also cause diseases, they do not have the specific rod shape associated with bacilli and, thus, are not linked to diseases like tuberculosis.