Lactobacillus
Plain-English definitions of microbiome research vocabulary — the terms you'll see across articles, testing services, and probiotic claims.
A genus of lactic acid-producing bacteria found naturally in the gut, mouth, and vaginal tract. Certain strains (L. rhamnosus GG, L. plantarum 299v) have strong clinical evidence for specific health benefits. Now reclassified into multiple genera including Lacticaseibacillus and Limosilactobacillus.
Related terms
Probiotic
Live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Benefits are strain-specific, not species-wide.
Bifidobacterium
A genus of beneficial bacteria that dominates the infant gut and remains important throughout life. Various species (B. longum, B. infantis, B. breve) are among the most studied probiotics, with evidence for IBS, immunity, and infant health.