Proteus Pro·te·us (prō'tē-əs)
n.
A genus of gram-negative, rod-shaped aerobic bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae that includes certain species associated with human enteritis and urinary tract infections.
In classical mythology, a god who served Poseidon. Proteus could change his shape at will.
Note: Someone or something that easily takes on several different forms may be called “protean.”