Investigating the health status and microbiota in members of the Irish Travelling community

Modern lifestyles increase the risk of chronic diseases, in part by modifying the microbiome, but the health effects of lifestyles enforced on ethnic minorities are under-studied. The ancient lifestyle of Irish Travellers, an ethnically distinct sub-population, was abruptly changed by legislation in 2002 which effectively ended nomadism. Comparative metagenomics of gut microbiomes shows that Travellers retain a microbiota akin to that of non-industrialised societies. This microbiome is associated with health-relevant functionality but its carriage has diminished in proportion to Travellers' adoption of new living conditions. This forewarns public health implications when ethnic minorities are intentionally or unwittingly pressured to change lifestyles.