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Wild Insides
22 November 2016

Wild Insides

Our guts house a thriving community of microbes, responsible for many bodily functions we take for granted. The overall diversity of bacteria and the delicate balance of pathogenic and beneficial species are extremely important for our health, yet Western lifestyles are increasingly associated with a loss of microbial diversity, contributing to many prevalent metabolic and autoimmune diseases. Studying some of our closest relatives may help us understand why this microbial imbalance, or dysbiosis, has occurred, as a parallel loss can be seen in primate species, including the red-shanked douc (pictured), when kept in captivity. Individuals in zoos are missing many bacterial species found in wild populations, primarily because of dietary differences, such as a reduced diversity of plants available to captive animals. These results suggest that modern diets, and especially our lower intake of plant fibre, might be most important in destabilising the microbial community we so greatly need.

Written by Emmanuelle Briolat

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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