Proteobacteria
Plain-English definitions of microbiome research vocabulary — the terms you'll see across articles, testing services, and probiotic claims.
A bacterial phylum that includes many well-known pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella, Helicobacter). In a healthy gut, Proteobacteria are a minor component, but their expansion is considered a potential marker of dysbiosis and microbial instability. Elevated Proteobacteria levels are observed in inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions.
Related terms
Dysbiosis
An imbalance in the composition or function of the microbiome, typically characterised by reduced diversity, loss of beneficial bacteria, or overgrowth of potentially harmful species.
Microbiome Diversity
The variety and abundance of different microbial species in a given environment. Greater diversity is consistently associated with better health outcomes, while reduced diversity is linked to obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and other chronic conditions.