What is Treponema pallidum?
{{italictitle}} {{Taxobox | image = Treponema pallidum.jpg | image_width = 200px | domain = [[Bacteria]] | regnum = [[Eubacteria]] | phylum = [[Spirochaete]]s | classis = [[Spirochaete]]s | ordo = [[Spirochaete|Spirochaetales]] | familia = [[Spirochaetaceae]] | genus = ''[[Treponema]]'' | species = '''''T. pallidum''''' | binomial = ''Treponema pallidum'' | binomial_authority = [[Fritz Schaudinn|Schaudinn]] & [[Erich Hoffmann|Hoffmann]], 1905 }} '''''Treponema pallidum''''' is a [[parasitic]] [[spirochaete]] [[bacterium]]. There are different kinds of ''Treponema pallidum'', which cause diseases like [[syphilis]], [[bejel]], [[Pinta (disease)|pinta]] and [[yaws]]. The most common disease caused by ''Treponema pallidum'' is syphilis, a serious [[sexually transmitted infection]]. Syphilis is treated and cured by taking [[antibiotics]]. Usually, the first treatment used is [[penicillin]].<ref>{{cite book |author= David N. Gilbert |title=The Sanford guide to antimicrobial therapy 2011 |publisher= Antimicrobial Therapy |location= Sperryville, VA |isbn=978-1-930808-65-2 |page=22 |edition= 41st |author2= Robert C. Moellering |author3= George M. Eliopoulos |year=2011 }}</ref> [[Antibiotic resistance]] has developed to a number of agents.<ref name=ST10>Stamm L.V. 2010. Global challenge of antibiotic-resistant ''Treponema pallidum''. ''Antimicrob. Agents Chemother''. '''54''' (2): 583–9. [http://aac.asm.org/content/54/2/583] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326060819/http://aac.asm.org/content/54/2/583 |date=2016-03-26 }}</ref> [[Ceftriaxone]], a third-generation [[cephalosporin]] [[antibiotic]], may be as effective as penicillin-based treatment.<ref name=Kent08>Kent M.E. & Romanelli F. 2008. Reexamining syphilis: an update on epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and management. ''Ann Pharmacother'' '''42''' (2): 226–36. [http://www.theannals.com/content/42/2/226] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019003325/http://www.theannals.com/content/42/2/226 |date=2012-10-19 }}</ref> Pennici