Microbial ecosystem (null)

A microbial ecosystem is not a receptor, enzyme, or single molecular entity but a collection of interacting microorganisms and their environment—this includes their physical, chemical, and biological interactions. They are critical to ecosystem functioning, regulating nutrient cycles, climate, biodiversity, and health in both environmental and host-associated contexts. Disruption to microbial ecosystems, such as via antibiotics or pollutants, can result in loss of functionality (e.g., impaired nutrient cycling, reduced disease resistance, climate feedbacks), ecosystem instability, and emergence of disease-conducive conditions. Microbial ecosystems are studied and, in some contexts, manipulated in medicine (e.g., fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotic interventions), agriculture, and bioremediation. However, they should not be classified as a conventional drug target or therapeutic molecule, and the term is not specific enough for drug discovery or molecular targeting.

Other names

Microbial communityMicrobiome (sometimes used, but with more focus on genetic makeup)Microbial ecology systemMicrobial consortia

Broad-spectrum or selective killing/inhibition of microorganisms (antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals); Modulation of community structure by introducing beneficial species (probiotics); Stimulating growth/activity of beneficial microbes (prebiotics).