@article{fdi:010090746,
  title = {{T}he social microbiome : the missing mechanism mediating the sociality-fitness nexus ?},
  author = {{B}aniel, {A}lice and {C}harpentier, {M}. {J}. {E}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n many social mammals, early social life and social integration in adulthood largely predict individual health, lifespan, and reproductive success. {S}o far, research has mainly focused on chronic stress as the physiological mediator between social environment and fitness. {H}ere, we propose an alternative, nonexclusive mechanism relying on microbially mediated effects: social relationships with conspecifics in early life and adulthood might strongly contribute to diversifying host microbiomes and to the transmission of beneficial microbes. {I}n turn, more diverse and valuable microbiomes would promote pathogen resistance and optimal health and translate into lifelong fitness benefits. {T}his mechanism relies on recent findings showing that microbiomes are largely transmitted via social routes and play a pervasive role in host development, physiology and susceptibility to pathogens. {W}e suggest that the social transmission of microbes could explain the sociality -fitness nexus to a similar or higher extent than chronic social stress and deserves empirical studies in social mammals.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}science},
  volume = {27},
  numero = {5},
  pages = {109806 [9 ]},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.isci.2024.109806},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010090746},
}