mikrobiota

Mikrobiota refers to the communities of microorganisms that inhabit a defined environment, including the human body. These communities encompass bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses and live in dynamic balance with their host. The term microbiota is often distinguished from the microbiome, which denotes the collective genomes of these microorganisms and their interactions with the environment; microbiota describes the members themselves.

In humans, microbiota occupy numerous sites such as the gut, skin, mouth, vagina, and the upper respiratory tract. The gut microbiota is the most densely populated and diverse. It participates in digestion and fermentation of complex carbohydrates, contributes to the production of certain vitamins, and plays a key role in the development and regulation of the immune system. Microbial communities at other body sites influence local physiology and can have systemic effects through metabolites and immune signaling.

The composition of the microbiota varies with age, diet, geography, genetics, and medical interventions. Early life factors, including mode of birth and breastfeeding, shape initial colonization. Antibiotics and illness can disrupt microbial communities, a condition known as dysbiosis, which has been associated with a range of health outcomes such as inflammatory and metabolic disorders, allergies, and infections. Establishing causal links remains an active area of research.

Studying microbiota involves genomic and metagenomic methods, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and metabolomics to assess composition and function. Concepts such as a core microbiota, functional redundancy, and microbial succession help describe community structure. Therapeutic approaches aiming to modify the microbiota include probiotics, prebiotics, tailored diets, and, in some cases, fecal microbiota transplantation, though effectiveness is context-dependent.