ScienceAugust 11, 2026

commensal

kuh-MEN-suhl

Definition

A microorganism that lives in or on a host organism without causing harm and often providing benefit.

Etymology

Derived from the Medieval Latin 'commensalis', meaning 'sharing a table'. It entered English in the late 19th century to describe organisms that coexist in a non-parasitic relationship.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe Prevotella bacteria, which live in the human respiratory tract and help defend against pneumonia without being pathogenic themselves.

Lab Digs Into Prevotella’s Defensive Power Against Bacterial Pneumonia

Read the full article ↗

news.cuanschutz.edu

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