Faecalibacterium prausnitzii Indicates Healthspan and Lifespan in Nonhuman Primates

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between fecal Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and health resiliency. DESIGN: Cohorts of nonhuman primates were evaluated prior to disease development for fecal abundances of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. SETTING: Radiation-induced and spontaneously arising age-induced morbidity and mortality, including high rates of Type 2 diabetes. PARTICIPANTS: Old world male and female nonhuman primates. MEASUREMENTS: Age, weight, glycemic indices, fecal total microbial loads and specific detection Faecalibacterium prausnitzii levels as measured by whole genome sequencing or polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Higher levels of fecal Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was observed in nonhuman primates that survived whole body irradiation, had longer lifespans, and were protected from future Type 2 diabetes diagnoses. Type 2 diabetes development further lowered Faecalibacterium prausnitzii levels. The mean effect size for differences in fecal abundance was 1.76 (95% confidence interval 0.03-3.50). CONCLUSION: The abundance of the intestinal microbial species Faecalibacterium prausnitzii appears to be a strong candidate biomarker species for a preferred microbiome that predicts superior health resiliency and associated lifespan.