microbiota

American  

[mahy-kroh-bahy-oh-tuh] / ˌmaɪ kroʊ baɪˈoʊ tə /

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. the microorganisms, both flora and fauna, that inhabit a particular region, when considered collectively.

2. the microorganisms that live in the human body, symbiotically or pathologically.

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Etymology

Origin of microbiota

First recorded in 1925–30; micro- ( def. ) + biota ( def. )

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Compare meaning

How does microbiota compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• microbiota vs. microbiome

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

microbiota

In mice fed a high-fat diet, a fraction containing both polyphenols and polysaccharides from white mulberry fruit produced more favorable changes in the gut microbiota than either fraction given on its own.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026

Gut microbiota from mice that had received the combined mulberry fraction were transferred to other animals.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026

Their involvement brought together nutritional and pharmaceutical approaches to studying mulberry and the gut microbiota.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026

In mice, a combination of polyphenols and polysaccharides from white mulberry fruit produced greater beneficial changes in the microbiota than either fraction alone.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 30, 2026

The team is now studying how food additives and ultra-processed foods may influence inflammation, oxidative stress, the metabolic profile of the blood, and the gut microbiota.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

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