Bacterioma
In biology, a bacterioma (also called mycetoma ) refers to special organs (or parts of organs or cells) in which symbiotic bacteria live. Special cells for such a purpose are called bacteriocytes .
Examples
In its abdomen , the leaf flea Pachypsylla venusta contains such a bacteriome in which bacteria of the species Carsonella ruddii live as endosymbionts in special cells (the bacteriocytes) . The tsetse fly also contains a bacterioma in the anterior midgut.
In humans and many other animals, the intestine is viewed as a bacteriome, as bacteria also live in it in a symbiotic relationship with the host.