U.S. Immigrants Leave Country and Microbes Behind

May 7, 2026

The document discusses a study on immigrants to the U.S. and their loss of native gut microbes. Computational biologist Dan Knights from the University of Minnesota explains that immigrants, specifically first- and second-generation Hmong and Karen women, experience an immediate and continued decline in the number and diversity of gut microbes upon arriving in the U.S. This shift is not explained by dietary changes, suggesting other lifestyle factors in the U.S. may be responsible, such as antibiotics, water supply, stress, exercise, or hygiene. The study, published in the journal Cell, highlights that some missing microbes aid in digesting traditional foods, but the consequences can be more severe. The loss or imbalance of gut microbes is linked to rising diseases in industrialized nations, including obesity and metabolic disease, a problem that may be addressable if the microbial mystery is solved.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

May 7, 2026

Upload by Olivia Brown