Diversity of human gut microbes in Africa reflects geography, lifestyle and health status

Low- and middle-income countries are under-represented in research into the gut microbiome, and addressing this is key to understanding the link between gut-resident microorganisms and health. A large study of the microbiomes of African women provides a resource for microbiome discovery and a framework for equitable research in this area. An analysis of the gut microbiome in women from four African countries provides crucial data for this under-represented region.