microbiome
Internal bacterial community
The microbiome is the community of microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, viruses—living in a particular environment, especially the human body.
The gut microbiome has received intense scientific attention for its role in digestion, immunity, and even mood: Research links the gut microbiome to depression.
Each person's microbiome is unique, shaped by diet, environment, and genetics.
Live microorganisms aiding digestion
- prebioticsFood for gut flora
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- intestinalOf the gut
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
gastrointestinal · absorption · microflora · mucosa · bifidobacteria · lactobacillus · enteric · colon
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- archaeaThird domain of life
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- phageBacteria-infecting virus
protozoa · bacterium · prokaryote · microorganism · pathogen · symbiont · commensal · yeast
Two-way biological benefit
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
- hostOne receiving guests
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
interdependence · cooperation · antagonism · metabolites · signaling
State of varied elements
- communityCollective of connected people
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- abundanceAmple supply, overflowing
- richnessState of abundance
colonization · succession · niche · interactions · resilience · stability · biofilm · ecosystem
Protected from harm
- wellnessOverall state of health
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- allergiesAdverse immune responses
- dietCustomary food consumption
nutrition · autoimmune · metabolism · homeostasis · obesity · diabetes · biomarkers
Determining element order
- bioinformaticsComputational analysis of genetic data
- phylogeneticOf evolutionary relationships
- taxonomicOf systematic categorization
- samplingExtracting subset for study
probiotics
Live microorganisms aiding digestion
- prebioticsFood for gut flora
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- intestinalOf the gut
fermentation · gastrointestinal · absorption · microflora · mucosa · bifidobacteria · lactobacillus · enteric · colon · acidophilus
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
phage · protozoa · bacterium · prokaryote · microorganism · pathogen · symbiont · commensal · yeast · parasites
mutualism
Two-way biological benefit
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- parasitismOne benefits, one suffers
- hostOne receiving guests
coevolution · interdependence · cooperation · antagonism · metabolites · signaling
diversity
State of varied elements
- communityCollective of connected people
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- abundanceAmple supply, overflowing
richness · colonization · succession · niche · interactions · resilience · stability · biofilm · ecosystem · habitat
immunity
Protected from harm
- wellnessOverall state of health
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- allergiesAdverse immune responses
diet · nutrition · autoimmune · metabolism · homeostasis · obesity · diabetes · biomarkers
sequencing
Determining element order
- bioinformaticsComputational analysis of genetic data
- phylogeneticOf evolutionary relationships
- taxonomicOf systematic categorization
sampling · culture · agar · petri · shotgun · swab · microarray
- omesgenome
- sciencechemistry, physics, astronomy, geology, electron
- digestionstomach acid, swallowing, digesting, chewing, digestion
- skincarecream, lotion, moisturizer, facial, serum
- gutintestine, small intestine, large intestine, colon, bowel
- BiotechDNA, bioengineering, genetic testing, gene, DNA sequencing
microbiomemacrofauna
Visible-sized animal life
megafauna · macroorganisms · macroorganism · vertebrates · mammals
microbiomesterile environment
Space without living microorganisms
host body · germ-free · sterility · disinfected · antiseptic
- gut microbiomeMicrobial community in digestive tract
- skin microbiomeMicroorganisms inhabiting body surface
- microbiology labsSpaces for studying microorganisms