Consequences of colonialism: A microbial perspective to contemporary Indigenous health

Abstract

Nearly all Indigenous populations today suffer from worse health than their non-Indigenous counterparts, and despite interventions against known factors, this health "gap" has not improved. The human microbiome-the beneficial, diverse microbial communities that live on and within the human body-is a crucial component in developing and maintaining normal physiological health. Disrupting this ecosystem has repercussions for microbial functionality, and thus, human health. In this article, we propose that modern-day Indigenous population health may suffer from disrupted microbial ecosystems as a consequence of historical colonialism. Colonialism may have interrupted the established relationships between the environment, traditional lifeways, and microbiomes, altering the Indigenous microbiome with detrimental health consequences.

Response of Salivary Microbiota to Caries Preventive Treatment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children

“…Understanding the impact of these treatments on the overall microbial ecology of the mouth is critical to understanding the long-term implications, benefits, or risks, associated with novel dental treatments. Longitudinal tracking of the possible downstream effects from an initial ecological shift has often been disregarded in oral health research and needs to be included in studies moving forward, especially in Indigenous populations that may retain unique microorganisms [ 53 ].…”

The role of the oral microbiota in chronic non-communicable disease and its relevance to the Indigenous health gap in Australia

“…This evidence raises the pertinent question of whether the oral microbiota differs among human populations with different histories and cultures. Most oral microbiota research is conducted among people of predominantly European descent living industrialised lifestyles [120,121]. However, reconstructions of ancient oral microbiota have identified shifts in microbiota composition that may be linked to major changes in lifestyle, such as meat consumption and transition to agriculture [116,122].…”

“…Given the links between the oral microbiota and oral and systemic disease, such differences could have important implications for Indigenous health in terms of both disease risk and response to treatments. Indeed, Skelly et al [121] have previously argued that the traumatic experience of colonisation and its possible impacts on the human microbiome are likely to have health consequences for Indigenous people today.…”

“…Beyond these potential longer-term benefits, there are numerous opportunities for microbiota research to be a positive for Indigenous communities in the short term. Importantly, it may be some time before robust and sufficiently powered microbiota research is carried out, analysed, and translated into new therapies or healthcare approaches with tangible benefits for Indigenous communities [121]. Valid concerns have previously been raised about the dangers of over-promising therapeutic benefits of microbiota research to research participants, especially for marginalised groups such as Indigenous peoples [140].…”

Palaeomicrobiology: Application of Ancient DNA Sequencing to Better Understand Bacterial Genome Evolution and Adaptation

“…Studies examining both domesticated and non-domesticated animal microbiota may reveal commensal Salmonella strains in the past, providing insight into the evolution of this diverse genus. Further still, its presence in the New World and the potential effects, both social and biological, on New World Indigenous peoples needs further exploration; for example, understanding how resistance or survival of S. Paratyphi influenced downstream immune responses or microbiota may be critical to better understanding Indigenous health in the Americas (Skelly et al, 2018).…”