Reference entry

Biofilm

Plain-English definitions of microbiome research vocabulary — the terms you'll see across articles, testing services, and probiotic claims.

Glossary context

Defined

in the site-wide microbiome glossary

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Definition

A structured community of microorganisms attached to a surface and enclosed in a self-produced matrix. Biofilms in the gut can be protective (healthy mucus layer) or pathogenic (difficult-to-treat infections).

Related terms

Microbiota

The actual living microorganisms within an environment. Often used interchangeably with microbiome, though microbiome technically includes their genes as well.