Microbiota / Microbiome
Japanese: 菌叢（マイクロバイオーム / マイクロバイオータ）
The overall community of microorganisms inhabiting a specific environment. Each location has its own unique microbial composition, such as the human gut microbiota or miso microbiota.
Microbiota is a term referring to the entire community of microorganisms inhabiting a specific environment. Gut microbiota, skin microbiota, miso microbiota—different members build unique communities in each location.
In recent years, the word 'microbiome' has become common. Strictly speaking, microbiota refers to the microbial community itself, while microbiome refers to the community plus its genetic information, though in practice they are often used interchangeably.
The human gut microbiota comprises roughly 1,000 bacterial species and fluctuates greatly with diet, antibiotic use, and environment. Fermented foods serve as one means of introducing new members to this community from outside.
Miso and wooden barrels also have their own unique microbiota, whose composition determines the brewery's characteristic flavor. Deciphering the microbiota is a crucial key to understanding fermentation.