History of medicine: Origin of the term microbiome and why it matters
Open accessAbstract
Contemporary science writing suffers from errors in quotations and misattributions. Given the importance of the microbiome to virtually every branch of science and medicine, its early origins and historical references are vital. Regardless of technological applications – culture technique or next-generation metagenomics – accurate referencing is essential to the scientific pursuit of truth. Despite claims and inferences to the contrary, the rich history of the study of microbiota and the microbiome didn’t begin in 2001; many lessons can be learned by closely examining the history of the gut-brain-microbiota connection, including the undervalued role of early pioneers in this field.
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The word 'microbiome' was used in its modern context more than a decade before Joshua Lederberg first used it in 2001.
“the word was used in its modern context more than a decade before Joshua Lederberg first used it in 2001 6 .”
From Human microbiome myths and misconceptions (2023) · cites this paper as [6]
Joshua Lederberg did not invent the word 'microbiome'.
“he did not invent the word 'microbiome'.”
From Human microbiome myths and misconceptions (2023) · cites this paper as [6]
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Cites
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Lutsiv, T., Hussan, H., & Thompson, H. J. (2024) · The Cancer Journal · doi:10.1097/ppo.0000000000000743 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Nash, K., & Sloam, D. (2022) · British Journal of Midwifery · doi:10.12968/bjom.2022.30.5.246 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Application of human microbiome in forensic investigations
Walia, M., Sharma, B., & Verma, P. (2022) · International Journal of Health Sciences · doi:10.53730/ijhs.v6ns1.6597 · Cited by 1
“Metagenomics is the study of hereditary fabric that's recovered specifically from environmental samples, counting urine [16, 17].”
BackgroundEukaryotic Microorganisms are Part of Holobionts
ROSENBERG, E. B. (2021) · The microbiomes of humans, animals, plants, and the environment · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-65317-0_6 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Current applications of the microbiome engineering and its future: A brief review
Malayejerdi, Z., & Pouresmaeil, O. (2020) · doi:10.52547/jcbior.1.2.48 · Cited by 1
“2 “Microbiome” was used first time by Joshua Lederberg in 2001 [4, 5].”
MethodCan We Talk About Feminist Epistemic Values Beyond Gender? Lessons from the Gut Microbiome
Schneider, T. (2019) · Biological Theory · doi:10.1007/s13752-019-00335-5 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Urinary microbiome: Norm and pathology
Zakharova, I. N., Osmanov, I. M., Bekmurzaeva, G. B., Anisimova, P. D., & Churilova, V. D. (2026) · Meditsinskiy sovet = Medical Council · doi:10.21518/ms2026-006
The impact of autism awareness of mothers of preschool children on the level of microbiota awareness
İnci, R., Emrem, M., Yıldız, M., Yazici, B., & Uygun, D. (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-026-39114-1
Zakharova, I. N., Osmanov, I. M., Bekmurzaeva, G. B., Anisimova, P. D., & Churilova, V. D. (2025) · Pediatrics. Consilium Medicum · doi:10.26442/26586630.2025.4.203547
PROBIOTICS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTICS
Shorabayev, E. Z., Sadanov, A., Baimakhanova, B., Ratnikova, I., Orazymbet, S., Yermеkbay, Z. N., & Miralimova, S. M. (2025) · МИКРОБИОЛОГИЯ ЖӘНЕ ВИРУСОЛОГИЯ · doi:10.53729/mv-as.2025.04.04
Clinical Ecology and its Repercussions on General Medicine and Epidemiology
(2022) · Archives of Health Science · doi:10.31829/2641-7456/ahs2022-6(1)-003
Adventures with spiral bugs and Helicobacter.
Lee, A. (2021) · Journal and proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales · doi:10.5962/p.361953
“Indeed, Dubos really can be considered to be the Father of the gut microbiome, which is currently all the rage, sixty years later (Prescott, 2017).”
BackgroundHoughton, C. A. (2020) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-820593-8.00014-8 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
ROSENBERG, E. B. (2021) · The microbiomes of humans, animals, plants, and the environment · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-65317-0_1 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Understanding Microbiome Science Through Big Data Analysis
Narayan, A., Singh, A., & Kumar, S. (2020) · doi:10.1007/978-981-15-8562-3_3
- Authors
- Prescott, S. L.
- Affiliations
- The University of Western Australia (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Prescott, Susan L.
- ORCID
- Prescott, Susan L.
- Venue
- Human Microbiome Journal
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-06
- Volume
- 4
- Pages
- 24-25
- ISSN
- 2452-2317 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2624000494
- Cited by
- 106
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 44.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Human Microbiome Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › History of Science and Medicine
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Medical History and Innovations
- Keywords
- microbiome, history of medicine, history of microbiology, microbiota, metagenomics, culture techniques, scientific attribution
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