Box 1
Microbiota	All the microbes (archaea, bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) present within an ecosystem/habitat. A collective study of these microbes in the gut is called the gut microbiome, and at the skin, it is called skin microbiome.
Microbiome	Collective genomic, protein, or metabolite content of all the microbes in a given ecosystem/habitat, e.g., the microbial community in the gut is called gut microbiota.
Metagenome	Study of genetic material from a given ecosystem/habitat, e.g., 16S-rRNA metagenomic analysis is the study of bacteria present within a given environment through sequencing of the 16S rRNA region of the bacteria.
Healthy microbiota	A diversified microbiota present in a healthy state responsible for maintaining homeostasis of host physiology including the immune system. It is characterized by a diverse microbial community, which is stable, shows resistance and resilience, and maintains immune homeostasis by keeping a balance between pro-and anti-inflammatory responses.
Dysbiosis	Alteration of microbiota from a healthy state; it is characterized by lower resistance and resilience ability, shifting the immune balance toward an inflammatory phenotype.