Microbiome

A microbiome is a community of microorganisms in a particular environment, considered together with their collective genetic material and interactions.

Microbiota: The microorganisms living in a defined environment, considered as a community. Microbiota names the organisms alone; microbiome often includes their genes and interactions.
Gut microbiome: The microbial community and genetic material associated with the gastrointestinal tract. It is the best-studied human microbiome and a major focus of health research.
Short-chain fatty acids: Fatty acids, including acetate, propionate, and butyrate, produced largely by microbial fermentation. These metabolites link microbial processing of food to host physiology.
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek: A Dutch microscopist who made early detailed observations of microorganisms in the seventeenth century. His observations established that microbial life was abundant in everyday environments.
Metagenomics: The study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples. It reveals the collective genes that help characterize a microbiome.
Human microbiome: The microbial communities and their genetic material associated with the human body. It connects microbial ecology to human anatomy, health, and disease.
Quorum sensing: Cell-to-cell communication in which microorganisms use signaling molecules to coordinate behavior. It lets microbial populations regulate collective activities in response to local density.
Martinus Beijerinck: A Dutch microbiologist who helped develop enrichment culture and foundational ideas in virology. His methods advanced the study of microorganisms in their environmental contexts.
Microbial ecology: The study of microorganisms’ relationships with one another and their environments. It supplies the ecological framework for understanding microbiome interactions.
Fecal microbiota transplantation: A procedure that transfers stool-derived microorganisms from a donor to a recipient. It treats recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection by restoring community functions.

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