A groundbreaking study has identified over 40,000 previously unknown gut microbes in African populations, a discovery that could revolutionize drug development and medical treatment across the continent. The research, led by the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience (SBIMB) at the University of the Witwatersrand, highlights how African microbiomes have been largely overlooked in global medical research—potentially affecting the effectiveness of widely used drugs.

For decades, pharmaceutical development has been based primarily on research conducted in high-income countries such as the United States and Europe. However, gut bacteria—key to drug metabolism—differ significantly across populations. This means that medications designed for Western microbiomes may not work the same way for African patients.

“Our goal is to ensure that medical research considers as many populations as possible,” said Dr. Ovokeraye Oduaran, one of the study’s lead researchers. “This could lead to medications that are more effective for millions of Africans.”

The findings, published in Nature, could push pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs tailored to different microbiomes, ultimately improving treatment outcomes.

One of the study’s most significant revelations was a unique microbial signature in people living with HIV in Africa. This pattern, which is absent in studies from wealthier nations, suggests that gut microbiomes influence disease progression differently based on geography.

“Had we not conducted this study, we wouldn’t have found this unique microbial link to HIV,” said Dr. Luicer Ingasia Olubayo, a postdoctoral fellow at SBIMB.

This insight could lead to better treatments and monitoring strategies specifically designed for HIV patients in Africa, where the disease remains a major public health challenge.

The study also examined how urbanization is reshaping gut microbiomes. Researchers found that rural populations had more diverse gut bacteria than city dwellers. One key bacterium, Treponema, commonly found in rural communities, was almost absent in urban populations—a shift attributed to modern diets, lower fiber intake, and increased antibiotic use.

“Urbanization is rapidly reducing gut microbiome diversity, and this could have long-term health consequences,” warned Dr Charissa Naidoo, co-director of the African Microbiome Institute. She cautioned that this decline in microbial diversity could be linked to rising cases of allergies, autoimmune disorders, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes.

Beyond the rural-urban divide, researchers also discovered significant microbiome differences between cities across Africa. This suggests that local diets, cultural habits, and environmental factors all play a role in shaping gut bacteria—making one-size-fits-all medical approaches ineffective.

“We’ve often categorized microbiomes simply as ‘rural’ versus ‘urban,’ but our research challenges that idea,” said Olubayo. “Instead, we see fluid transitions between populations.”

This insight reinforces the need for more region-specific medical research. By integrating African microbiome data into drug development, scientists could help create medications that work more effectively for diverse populations.

This study represents a significant milestone in microbiome research, shedding light on the critical role gut bacteria play in health and disease. By ensuring that African microbiomes are considered in global medical research, these findings could pave the way for more inclusive and effective treatments worldwide.

With further research, these discoveries could reshape medicine by ensuring that treatments are optimized for all populations—not just those historically included in clinical studies.

 

Article by RB Correspodent

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https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/africas-unique-gut-microbiome-could-guide-new-medicines