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Indigenous infants in remote Australia retain an ancestral gut microbiome despite encroaching Westernization

Author

Listed:
  • Leonard C. Harrison

    (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
    Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne)

  • Theo R. Allnutt

    (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
    Royal Botanic Gardens)

  • Sarah Hanieh

    (The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Department of Infectious Diseases)

  • Alexandra J. Roth-Schulze

    (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

  • Katrina M. Ngui

    (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

  • Natalie L. Stone

    (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

  • Esther Bandala-Sanchez

    (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

  • Lilly Backshell

    (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)

  • George Gurruwiwi

    (The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Department of Infectious Diseases)

  • Veronica Gondarra

    (The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Department of Infectious Diseases)

  • Jennifer J. Couper

    (University of Adelaide, Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School
    Women’s and Children’s Hospital)

  • Maria E. Craig

    (University of New South Wales, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health
    Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes
    The University of Sydney, Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health)

  • Elizabeth A. Davis

    (The University of Western Australia, Children’s Diabetes Centre, Telethon Kids Institute
    Perth Children’s Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes
    The University of Western Australia, Discipline of Paediatrics, Medical School)

  • Tony Huynh

    (Queensland Children’s Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes
    The University of Queensland, Children’s Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine
    Mater Pathology, Department of Chemical Pathology)

  • Georgia Soldatos

    (Monash University, Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
    Monash Health, Diabetes and Vascular Medicine Unit)

  • John M. Wentworth

    (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
    Royal Melbourne Hospital, Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology)

  • Peter Vuillermin

    (Deakin University, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine
    Barwon Health, Child Health Research Unit)

  • Megan A. S. Penno

    (Women’s and Children’s Hospital)

  • Beverley-Ann Biggs

    (The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Department of Infectious Diseases
    Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victorian Infectious Diseases Service)

Abstract

Studies of traditional Indigenous compared to ‘Western’ gut microbiomes are underrepresented, and lacking in young children, limiting knowledge of early-life microbiomes in different cultural contexts. Here we analyze the gut metagenomes of 50 Indigenous Australian infants (median age

Suggested Citation

  • Leonard C. Harrison & Theo R. Allnutt & Sarah Hanieh & Alexandra J. Roth-Schulze & Katrina M. Ngui & Natalie L. Stone & Esther Bandala-Sanchez & Lilly Backshell & George Gurruwiwi & Veronica Gondarra , 2025. "Indigenous infants in remote Australia retain an ancestral gut microbiome despite encroaching Westernization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-65758-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65758-0
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