Bidirectional regulation of the brain-gut axis in Macaca mulatta : implications for wildlife conservation and experimentation

This study uncovers how psychological stress alters gut microbiota in wild animals, enhancing understanding of the gut-brain axis in natural ecosystems. Crucially, it identifies microbial profiles as non-invasive stress biomarkers, enabling early detection of environmental threats in conservation. The findings emphasize the ethical need to incorporate stress assessments (e.g., microbiota and cortisol analyses) into wildlife research to ensure welfare and data validity. Mechanistic parallels with captive species suggest evolutionary conservation of gut-brain pathways, opening avenues for cross-species therapies. By bridging psychobiology and conservation, this work establishes a framework for stress resilience interventions and ethical wildlife management, advancing both ecological health and humane science. Future research should explore microbiota-targeted strategies and cross-species applicability to optimize conservation outcomes.