mGem: Tapping into the language of symbiosis to advance human microbiome research
Gina R. Lewin, Lily Khadempour · 2026
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Description
Gina R. Lewin and Lily Khadempour called in 2026 for exact symbiosis words in human microbiome work. In ecology, a commensal has no effect on its host, while a mutualist benefits its host, yet microbiome writing often uses commensal loosely for any helpful organism. Old habits persist despite known gaps in word use.
The authors urge using commensal only when no host effect is known, mutualist when benefit is known, and symbiont when effect is unknown. Shared words with ecologists let microbiome workers draw on and add to vast symbiosis research. Exact words prevent false claims about microbes whose host effects stay unproved.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Gina R. Lewin, Lily Khadempour |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 11 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |