Detailed Social Network Interactions and Gut Microbiome Strain-Sharing Within Isolated Honduras Villages

Abstract

When humans assemble into face-to-face social networks, they create an extended environment that permits exposure to the microbiome of other members of a population. Social network interactions may thereby also shape the composition and diversity of the microbiome at individual and population levels. Here, we use comprehensive social network and detailed microbiome sequencing data in 1,098 adults across 9 isolated villages in Honduras to investigate the relationship between social network structure and microbiome composition. Using both species-level and strain-level data, we show that microbial sharing occurs between many relationship types, notably including non-familial and non-household connections. Using strain- sharing data alone, we can confidently predict a wide variety of relationship types (AUC ~0.73). This strain-level sharing extends to second-degree social connections in a network, suggesting the importance of the extended network with respect to microbiome composition. We also observe that socially central individuals are more microbially similar to the overall village than those on the social periphery. Finally, we observe that clusters of microbiome species and strains occur within clusters of people in the village social networks, providing the social niches in which microbiome biology and phenotypic impact are manifested.

Environmental, socioeconomic, and health factors associated with gut microbiome species and strains in isolated Honduras villages

“… 61 In humans, strain-level similarities have been shown in familial and partner networks within and outside households. 62 , 63 , 64 Whether these interactions translate into exposures that directly contribute to health is an important area for further work.…”

Environmental, Socioeconomic, and Health Factors Associated with Gut Microbiome Species and Strains in Isolated Honduras Villages

“…In wild mice, social associations are predictive of microbiome composition, and the microbiome is correlated across mice interaction networks (44). In humans, strain-level similarities have been shown in familial and partner networks within and outside households (45)(46)(47). Whether these interactions translate into exposures that directly contribute to health is an important area for further work.…”

Neuroblastoma is associated with alterations in gut microbiome composition subsequent to maternal microbial seeding

“…Maternal seeding is disrupted in infants born by C-section, 20 , 21 and while after three years of age children share similar rates of strains with their mothers regardless of their mode of delivery, 22 missing specific bacteria at key neurodevelopmental windows might have long-lasting effects on children's health. 23 The gut microbiome is also extensively transmitted among individuals in close proximity and along social networks, 24 , 25 , 26 which raises the possibility that microbiome-associated non-communicable diseases can be (at least partially) communicable. 22 , 27 …”