A Nature Communications paper linked specific gut microbiome signatures to the severity of Plasmodium infections across rhesus macaques and humans. The study identified microbial taxa and metabolite patterns that correlated with worse clinical outcomes, suggesting the microbiome as a modifier of malaria susceptibility and progression. Experimental and clinical data supported cross-species associations. Authors proposed that microbiome-based biomarkers could stratify risk and potentially open microbiota-targeted adjunctive therapies to modify disease course. Validation in larger cohorts will be required before clinical application.