Milk microbiomes of three great ape species vary among host species and over time

In mammalian neonates, milk consumption provides nutrients, growth factors, immune molecules and microbes. Milk microbiomes are increasingly recognized for their roles in seeding infant gut microbiomes and priming immune development. However, milk microbiome variation within and among individuals remains under investigation. We use 16S rRNA gene sequencing to investigate factors (host species, lactation stage, and housing facility) that shape milk microbiomes in three captive great ape species (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, Pongo abelii, and Pongo pygmaeus).