What is the Difference Between Microbiome and Microbiota?

The terms "microbiome" and "microbiota" both relate to microorganisms, but they have subtle differences. Here is a breakdown of the differences between the two:

• Microbiota: This refers to the living microorganisms found in a defined environment, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. For example, the human microbiota consists of the 10-100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells harbored by each person, primarily bacteria in the gut. Microbiota can vary significantly between individuals and between different body sites.
• Microbiome: This refers to the collection of genomes from all the microorganisms in the environment. The microbiome encompasses a broader spectrum than the microbiota, as it includes not only the community of microorganisms but also the microbial structural elements, metabolites, and the environmental conditions. The microbiome is unique to each organism and can vary significantly between individuals.

In summary, the microbiota focuses on the living microorganisms in a specific environment, while the microbiome includes the genomes, structural elements, metabolites, and environmental conditions of the microorganisms in a given environment. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they have distinct differences in their scope and focus.

Comparative Table: Microbiome vs Microbiota

The terms "microbiome" and "microbiota" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings when referring to the microbes within us. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:

In summary, microbiota refers to the living microorganisms in a specific environment, while microbiome refers to the entire collection of genetic information, structural elements, and environmental conditions related to the microorganisms in a given environment.