Gut Microbiome Composition in Non-human Primates Consuming a Western or Mediterranean Diet

Abstract

The mammalian gastrointestinal tract harbors a highly diverse and dynamic community of bacteria. The array of this gut bacterial community, which functions collectively as a fully unified organ in the host metabolism, varies greatly among different host species and can be shaped by long-term nutritional interventions. Non-human primates, our close phylogenetic relatives and ancestors, provide an excellent model for studying diet-microbiome interaction; however, compared to clinical and rodent studies, research targeting primate gut microbiome has been limited. Herein, we analyze the gut microbiome composition in female cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis; n = 20) after the long-term (2.5 years) consumption of diets designed to mimic recent human Western- (WD; n = 10) or Mediterranean-type (MD; n = 10) diets. Microbiome diversity in MD consumers was significantly higher by the Shannon diversity index compared to the WD consumers, with similar but non-significant trends noted for the diversity metrics of species richness (Chao 1), observed operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and phylogenetic diversity (PD) whole Tree. Compared to the MD, the WD group demonstrated a higher Firmicutes-Bacteroides ratio and a significantly higher abundance of families Clostridiacea and Lactobacillaceae. Further analyses reveal significantly higher abundance of genera Lactobacillus, Clostridium, Faecalibacterium, and Oscillospira and lower abundance of Ruminococcus and Coprococcus in MD consumers relative to WD consumers. OTUs belonging to several species also show significant differences between the two groups, with Lactobacillus species demonstrating a prominently higher abundance in the MD consumers. The data reveal several differences in the gut microbiome of primates consuming the two different diets and should be useful for further studies aimed at understanding the diet-microbiome-health interactions in primates.

Mediterranean versus Western Diet Effects on Caloric Intake, Obesity, Metabolism, and Hepatosteatosis in Nonhuman Primates

“…Diet impacts the gut microbiome, and gut microbiota are associated with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity in humans . We also observed diet group differences in the gut (and breast) microbiome in this study , which may have contributed to changes in adiposity and metabolism.…”

Honokiol Ameliorates High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obesity of Different Sexes of Mice by Modulating the Composition of the Gut Microbiota

“…Bacteroides is a Gram-negative anaerobic belonging to Bacteroidetes, which produce SCFAs. Bacteroides abundance was related to the occurrence and development of obesity and a HFD reduce its abundance (12,47). A Mediterranean diet is associated with more Bacteroides than the Western diet (48).…”

A human-origin probiotic cocktail ameliorates aging-related leaky gut and inflammation via modulating the microbiota/taurine/tight junction axis

“…Gut microbiota analysis. The gut microbiome was examined, as per our previously described methods (33,73,(76)(77)(78)(79). In brief, bacterial genomic DNA was isolated from 200 mg of freshly frozen collected feces using Qiagen DNA Stool Mini Kit (Qiagen).…”