The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word VIBRIO
V
I
B
R
I
O
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Bacterium" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case bacterium = vibrio.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does VIBRIO mean?
VIBRIO noun- Any of several bacteria, of the genus Vibrio, shaped like a curved rod.