Friendly monkeys have ‘higher levels of helpful bacteria in their guts’

The less sociable monkeys were found to have a higher abundance of Streptococcus bacteria, a group that also includes harmful microbes.

Macaques on the island of Cayo Santiago (Lauren Brent/University of Oxford/PA)

Friendly monkeys have higher levels of helpful bacteria and lower levels of potentially disease-causing microbes in their guts, research suggests.

Scientists from the University of Oxford have found that monkeys engaging in friendly social interactions with peers are more likely to have an abundance of gut bacteria known to benefit the immune system.