STRASBOURG, FRANCE - The term microbiota originated in the early 1900s. Numerous microorganisms - such as bacteria, yeasts, and viruses - have been found to be cohabiting in the human body's many organ systems, including the gut, skin, lung, and oral cavity.¹ Compared to the complete human genome, the human microbiota - also referred to as ‘the hidden organ’ - contributes over 150 times as much genetic information.² The terms microbiota and microbiome are frequently used interchangeably, though they have some distinctions. Microbiota refers to the living microbes present in a certain habitat - such as the oral and intestinal microbiota - while microbiomes describe the set of genomes from all the microorganisms in the environment, which include not only the microbial community but also the metabolites, structural components, and environmental conditions. This means microbiomes encompass a broader spectrum than microbiota.

The human gut microbiome exerts a profound influence on people’s health and susceptibility to disease. Its function in regulating immunity, metabolism, and digestion highlights how important it is to preserving general health. During the past few decades, a vast amount of research has demonstrated the connection between microbi