Microbesuch

Microbesuch is a term used in microbiology to describe a transient visit by microbial cells to a niche, resulting in temporary interactions or short‑lived colonization without establishing a long‑term residence.

Origin and usage: The term is a portmanteau of microbe and Besuch, German for “visit.” It has appeared in small clusters of ecological studies aiming to capture highly dynamic phases of microbial communities.

Definition and scope: A microbesuch refers to brief, reversible encounters by a limited number of cells that can influence the immediate environment or host physiology but do not persist as stable members of the community. The timescale ranges from hours to days.

Contexts and examples: In the human skin microbiome, transient visitors may follow cleansing or antibiotic use; in soils and plant interfaces, pollen- or insect-associated microbes can momentarily colonize surfaces; in bioreactors, fermentation microbes may appear transiently before community structure stabilizes.

Methods and measurement: Researchers use time-series sequencing, single-cell genomics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and microfluidic devices to track visitation events, quantify cell persistence, and model ecological interactions. Experimental design emphasizes rapid sampling and rigorous contamination controls.

Significance and limitations: The concept highlights dynamic, non-persistent interactions that can shape community succession, resilience, and host responses. Limitations include definitional ambiguity, detection limits, and distinguishing true visitation from transient contamination. As a framework, microbesuch complements traditional studies of stable colonization.