Glossary

Antibiotics are produced either synthetically or by a process of fermentation from natural products of bacteria, algae, or fungi. They are used to kill microorganisms or slow down or stall their growth. We distinguish between antibiotics which target only very few microorganisms or bacteria (narrow spectrum) and those which act against wide range of microorganisms

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Antibiotic resistance is the ability of microorganisms or bacteria to survive the effects of antibiotics and continue to reproduce. We distinguish two basic types of antibiotic resistance: Natural (primary) resistance: Bacteria exist which have a natural resistance against penicillins which occur in nature or other antibiotics. For example, cephalosporin has no effect against the bacterial

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Bacteria are tiny living beings, monads (single cell microorganisms) without a nucleus. Bacteria exist in a wide variety regarding their significance, development, effect, and shape. The number of different bacterial species is estimated to be at least one million, some scientists assume there are several billion bacterial species. Usually, four different cell shapes are distinguished:

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The gut flora consists of the entirety of all bacteria and yeasts which live in the digestive tracts of animals and humans. Their composition depends on the kind and age of each organism and its diet. Some 1014 bacteria live in the human gut, about ten times the number of human cells. So far, some

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The term microbiome encompasses the genetic information contained in all microorganisms. They are distinguished according to habitat, e.g. the microbiome of all microorganisms living in the gut (microbiome of the gut microbiota) or on the skin (microbiome of the skin microbiota). In a broader sense, microbiome is also used synonymously with microbiota.

Microbiota, hitherto also often referred to as microflora, is the overall community of microscopically small organisms with a size of up to 0.2 mm (200 µm). Among the living beings in the microbiota are bacteria, fungi, and other organisms. We distinguish between skin microbiota / skin flora, oral microbiota / oral flora, gut microbiota /

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Probiotics are pharmaceuticals, food products, or dietary supplements (functional foods) which contain microorganisms with beneficial effects, usually living bacteria. By restoring the microbial balance (of good and bad bacteria), they benefit the gut flora and thus are good for your health. Typical probiotic microorganisms are lactobacilli (lactic acid bacteria), bifidobacteria, or specific yeasts. According to

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Healthy skin is usually colonised by microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi. The community of these tiny living beings is called skin flora. It is a natural and vital part of our skin’s surface, as it plays a role in our body’s defence by protecting the skin and thus the entire organism from germs and

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