Microbial Biofilms: Aggregates of microbial communities (best characterized for bacteria) that adhere to a surface and to each other, embedded within an extra-cellular matrix made of polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA. This represents the most common mode of growth of bacteria in nature. | |
Planktonic bacteria: Bacteria living in single form, swimming or floating in their environment | |
Pathobionts: Temporarily benign microbes, or commensals, that under environmental or host pressure may cause disease. | |
Gut microbiome: The aggregate collection of genomes and genes found in the gut microbiota. | |
Gut microbiota: The polymicrobial communities of viruses, bacteria, Archea, and Eukarya living as commensals in the gut. | |
Dysbiosis: Structural and /or functional imbalance of the gut microbiota. |