Figure 1. Gut Microbiome Features across Host Subsistence Strategies.

Lifestyle and dietary factors exert a profound effect on gut microbiome configuration. Hunter-gatherer populations, who rely on foraging and have little exposure to therapeutic agents, are highly enriched in Prevotella and other fiber-degrading taxa. Conversely, the dietary profile and sanitation infrastructure found in westernized societies is associated with Bacteroides dominance and a concomitant decrease in microbial diversity. Traditional agriculturalists occupy a putative intermediate state, sharing features of both western and hunter-gatherer communities. Abbreviation: SCFA, short-chain fatty acid.