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The emergence and disappearance of certain diseases - both infectious and chronic- are linked to changes in human ecology, which in turn alter the microbial populations in our bodies.
Baars et al. 2024 Cell Host & Microbe 32(8): 1280
For example, the eradication of Helicobacter pylori through antibiotic treatment has reduced the incidence of gastric and duodenal ulcers and, by extension, stomach cancer; however, the eradication of the bacterium has also been associated with an increase in several metabolic and autoimmune diseases.
Industrialization has significantly impacted the human gut ecosystem, leading to changes in microbiome composition and diversity. However, the question of whether bacterial genomes adapt to the industrialization of their host populations remains largely unexplored.
Industrialization and improvements in modern medicine have significantly lowered death rates from infectious diseases and have greatly increased how long people live. However, at the same time, there has been an increase in health issues related to long-term problems with metabolism and the immune system. Chronic inflammatory diseases now cause over 87% of deaths in wealthy countries.
Populations in both developed and developing countries have experienced catastrophic increases in the consumption of processed foods high in sugar and fat. These changes in dietary intake have been implicated in increased malnutrition, including over-nutrition linked to a wide range of metabolic disorders and related comorbidities.
Compared to 789 contemporary human gut microbiome samples from eight countries, paleofeces samples resemble non-industrialized rather than industrialized human gut microbiotas
Paleofeces samples show a significantly lower abundance of antibiotic resistance and mucin-degrading genes than industrial gut microbiotas
While the global prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically, there is also a noticeable loss of native bacterial species.
In industrialized societies, cancer second to cardiovascular disease cause of death
David & Zimmerman 2010 Nat Rev Cancer 10: 728
Industrialisation and improved hygiene have reduced the incidence of plague, cholera, dysentery, maternal and fetal mortality, childhood infections, and other long-standing ills. At the same time, however, there has been an increase in metabolic diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer.
see also:
Diseases / Disorders & Dysbiosis
Diseases / Disorders & Gut microbiota
Dysbiosis & Industrialisation
Food Allergy (FA) / Food Sensitivity
Gut microbiota
Gut microbiota & Influencing factors
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)
Urbanization