Gut microbiome structure in asylum seekers newly arrived in Italy from Africa

The global landscape of migration has evolved significantly, with international migrants tripling since 1970, reaching approximately 281 million by 2020. This rise includes a notable surge in forcibly displaced individuals due to conflicts, wars, and human rights violations. Additionally, climate change is reshaping migration patterns by environmental degradation and extreme weather events, with projections indicating that 143 million individuals may be uprooted by climate catastrophes over the next three decades. In this context, migrants experience chronic stress due to the uncertainties of their journey, exposure to trauma, and changes in living conditions, possibly exacerbating health issues, including through impairment of the gut microbiome. Our study focuses on the characterization – by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing – of intestinal microbiome in 79 asylum seekers newly arrived in Italy from African countries through their comparison with publicly available datasets of worldwide populations encompassing different origin and lifestyle. This microbiological surveillance, conducted as cross-sectional sampling over one year, aimed to assess how the forced migration journey and the associated stressors affect refugees’ gut health. Our findings suggest significant deviations in the gut microbiome composition of refugees compared to traditional rural populations, possibly driven by stressors such a psychological trauma and dietary changes. The loss of microbial diversity may increase susceptibility to health issues, highlighting the need for targeted public health strategies for refugee populations.