Captivity humanizes the primate microbiome.

Abstract in brief

• The study shows that wild primates have unique gut microbiomes, but when kept in captivity, they lose their native bacteria and become similar to humans, especially with an increase in bacteria like Prevotella and Bacteroides.
• Researchers used various methods, including gene sequencing and dietary analysis, to find that reduced fiber and plant-based foods in captivity are linked to these microbiome changes.
• A comparison with human data suggests that lifestyle changes like Westernization cause similar gut microbiome shifts in both primates and humans, highlighting how captivity and modern diets impact gut health.]