Microbiota
Definition
Microorganisms associated with a specified environment or host site. Marker profiling examines selected taxonomic regions within a microbial community. Sampling, extraction, primers and reference libraries influence the taxa represented. The observed profile is not a complete census of all organisms.
- Context
- Microbial evidence
For example, organisms represented in a sampled body site can differ from those in nearby soil and from what one marker assay detects.
A community difference does not automatically establish a unique person, place or elapsed time.
Related terms
- External Validation
- Assessment on independent material relevant to the intended application. Instruments, specimen types and operating conditions can differ. Success on a convenient dataset...
- Marker-Gene Profiling
- Targeted analysis of selected genetic marker regions to describe taxonomic composition under a stated method. Marker profiling examines selected taxonomic regions within...
- Shotgun Metagenomics
- Sequencing all DNA in a sample rather than just the 16S amplicon. Provides taxonomic resolution beyond 16S and can characterise viruses and...
- Thanatomicrobiome
- The thanatomicrobiome describes microbial communities associated with a body after death, with usage often emphasising internal tissues. The sampled site, analytical method...