[Comment] From “synthetic” to defined microbial communities for clearer terminology

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.

 

Koch, H., Clavel, T., Mayr, C. et al. From “synthetic” to defined microbial communities for clearer terminology. Nat Commun 17, 5283 (2026).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74251-1