HealthAugust 16, 2026
bacterialflora
bak-TEER-ee-ul-FLOR-uh
Definition
The collection of microorganisms, specifically bacteria, living within a particular environment or part of the body.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'bacteria' (small staff) and 'Flora,' the Roman goddess of flowers, metaphorically used since the early 20th century to describe microbial ecosystems.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe the oral microbial community that researchers aim to balance, rather than destroy, through targeted therapy.
New Treatment Targets Gum Disease Without Killing Good Bacteria
Read the full article ↗SciTechDaily