Microbiomes and Symbiotic Relationships

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Lecture 7 on Microbiomes, Symbiotic Relationships, and the Human Microbiome Project.

Joshua Lederberg

Nobel Prize-winning scientist from UW-Madison who popularized the term microbiome in 2001.

Microbiome

The total complex of biotic communities occupying and characterizing a particular area, comprising all interactive microbes in one location.

Symbiosis

A biological concept meaning 'to live together', describing close interactions between organisms and their hosts.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship in which both participating organisms benefit from the interaction.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits while the other is neither harmed nor helped.

Amensalism

A symbiotic relationship in which one organism is harmed while the other is neither harmed nor benefits.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits while the other organism is harmed.

Resident Microbiota

Microorganisms that colonize body surfaces and remain part of the host's normal microbiota long-term throughout life.

Transient Microbiota

Microorganisms that remain on or in the host body for only a short period before moving on or being cleared.

Opportunistic Pathogens

Normal microbiota that can cause disease under specific circumstances such as immune suppression or shifts in microbial composition.

Axenic

Refers to body sites or environments completely free of natural microbiota, such as the alveoli of the lungs or deep skin layers.

Leghemoglobin

A pink oxygen-binding protein in legume root nodules that facilitates nitrogen fixation by Rhizobium.

Human Microbiome Project (HMP)

An NIH project running from 2007 to 2013 that characterized the microbiota across five major human body sites: nose, mouth, skin, gut, and urogenital tract.

Integrative Human Microbiome Project (iHMP)

The second phase of the NIH Human Microbiome Project (2014–2020+) performing longitudinal studies on pregnancy and preterm birth, IBD onset, and type 2 diabetes onset.

Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT)

The largest immune tissue in the human body, situated in the digestive tract to manage massive microbial biomass and biodiversity.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT)

A medical procedure transferring stool from a healthy donor to treat conditions like Clostridium difficile infections, colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Rhizobium-Legume Symbiosis Early Steps

The initial sequence where Rhizobium bacteria infect legume root hairs, cause root hair curling, and form infection threads leading to root nodule development.

Termite Gut Mutualism

A symbiotic system in which ingested wood pulp is digested by cellulose-degrading protozoa and bacteria to provide an energy source for termites.