Research Brief: Study shows strong influence of external environment on fungal communities in the primate gut

Researchers are starting to understand the importance of gut fungi in mammals and the ways different environmental factors can shape these fungal communities, which play a crucial role in regulating immune responses. Similarities between captive apes and humans following industrialized lifestyles indicate a potential influence of diet and lifestyle factors over genetics in shaping gut fungal community composition and fungal-bacterial interactions. Led by computational biologist Ashok Kumar Sharma, a postdoctoral researcher formerly with the U of M, the research also includes contributions from animal science assistant professor Andres Gomez, PhD.