Microbiota, in the context of biological processes, refers to the dynamic, collectively functioning community of microorganisms that engage in continuous interactions with each other and with their host or environment. These processes include colonization, succession, metabolic activity (such as fermentation, vitamin synthesis, and xenobiotic transformation), signaling, competition, and cooperative interactions that shape local ecological niches. Through these activities, microbiota modulate host physiological processes including barrier function, immune maturation, and energy harvest, and participate in biogeochemical cycles. The term emphasizes the ongoing, emergent biological processes arising from microbial community composition, gene expression, and environmental feedbacks.
The Hawaiian bobtail squid, a small, multi-colored native of coastal waters in Hawai'i, uses bioluminescence to camouflage itself and evade predators. However, the costume change is only possible through an exclusive symbiotic ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 26, 2026
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A new study has demonstrated that we now have the tools to study the incredibly complex ecosystems of caves in near real-time with field-portable assays. The study was published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
Ecology
Mar 23, 2026
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A colony of leafcutter ants is home to more than just one species. Each year, studies reveal new layers of complexity in these ecosystems, where various fungi and bacteria thrive alongside the ants, resulting in countless ...
Ecology
Mar 19, 2026
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According to WHO, approximately 6% of the worldwide population who contract COVID-19—some 400 million people—go on to develop a long-lasting form of the disease. These figures demonstrate that the persistent form of the disease ...
Cell & Microbiology
Mar 17, 2026
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Every animal carries a microscopic community of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that play a critical role in health. These gut microbes help regulate the immune system, support digestion, and even influence how animals ...
Ecology
Mar 13, 2026
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For an oyster, creating an internal environment for calcification that forms its distinctive hard shell is essential. But new Harvard research has found that these bivalves may outsource the work, coordinating with microbes ...
Ecology
Mar 12, 2026
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A University of Helsinki study has investigated bacterial adhesion, survival and transmission on untreated and treated wood surfaces under both laboratory and field conditions. The laboratory work focused on Staphylococcus ...
Cell & Microbiology
Mar 12, 2026
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Scientists at the University of East Anglia (U.K.) have uncovered a hidden link between gut health and the immune system—all thanks to a tiny island bird. Researchers studied the Seychelles warbler, a small songbird found ...
Ecology
Mar 11, 2026
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Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is among the most damaging pests affecting soybean crops around the world, with current management strategies relying primarily on a very narrow set of resistant soybean varieties, along with crop ...
Cell & Microbiology
Mar 5, 2026
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Coral reefs are teeming with life: they are home to over a third of all marine animal and plant species on Earth, despite covering less than one percent of the ocean floor. However, this immense diversity is under threat ...
Cell & Microbiology
Feb 25, 2026
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