From “synthetic” to defined microbial communities for clearer terminology
Publication date
2026-12
Authors
Koch, Hanna
Clavel, Thomas
Mayr, Cintia
Coltman, Benjamin L.
Schloter, Michael
Vorholt, Julia A.
Sanz, Yolanda
Cernava, Tomislav
Beattie, Gwyn A.
Lange, Lene
Editors
Advisors
Supervisors
Document Type
Comment
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Abstract
Consortia of microbial isolates, also known as synthetic communities (SynComs), are increasingly used to study and harness microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions. Since “synthetic” potentially evokes negative connotations, we propose adopting the term “Defined Microbial Community” for practical applications.
Keywords
General Chemistry, General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology, General, General Physics and Astronomy
Citation
Koch, H, Clavel, T, Mayr, C, Coltman, B L, Schloter, M, Vorholt, J A, Sanz, Y, Cernava, T, Beattie, G A, Lange, L, Chaillou, S, Kovács, Á T, Smidt, H, Pieterse, C M J, Kostic, T, Finkel, O M, Lawson, C E, Cocolin, L, Mercado-Blanco, J, Finn, R D, Papadopoulou, K K, Ryan, M, Candela, M, Cotter, P D, Berg, G, O’Sullivan, O, Delgado-Baquerizo, M, Trivedi, P, Charles, T C, Singh, B K, Brader, G, Marian, M & Sessitsch, A 2026, 'From “synthetic” to defined microbial communities for clearer terminology', Nature Communications, vol. 17, no. 1, 5283, pp. 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74251-1