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Related Concept Videos

Human Virome01:26

Human Virome

The human body harbors a vast and diverse viral community known as the human virome. The virome includes bacteriophages that infect bacteria, and eukaryotic viruses that infect human cells. Transient dietary and environmental viruses also contribute to this dynamic ecosystem. Estimates suggest the human body may contain on the order of 10¹³ viral particles, though abundance varies widely by body site and detection method.Comprehensive characterization of the virome has become possible only with...
Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is characterized by distinct physicochemical conditions that shape its microbial communities. Among these, the stomach presents a particularly challenging environment for microbial colonization due to its highly acidic pH, ranging from 1 to 3. This extreme acidity effectively limits microbial density. However, certain acid-tolerant microorganisms are capable of surviving in this niche. Notably, Helicobacter pylori can colonize the gastric mucosa,...
Microbiota of the Large Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...
Functions of the Gut Microbiota01:18

Functions of the Gut Microbiota

The gut microbiota includes trillions of microorganisms that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi. This complex ecosystem plays a critical role in maintaining intestinal and systemic health. Most of these microbes inhabit the large intestine, establishing a relatively stable and diverse community that contributes to gut homeostasis through various metabolic, immunological, and protective mechanisms.Dominant bacterial phyla, such as...
Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine01:29

Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine

The gut microbiome is formed by a vast and diverse community of bacteria that colonizes our large intestine. These bacteria start residing in the gut from birth and continue diversifying throughout life, influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and stress. The gut bacterial community also includes bacteria from food and those that enter the colon through the anus.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Visualization of Gut Microbiota-host Interactions via Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, Lectin Staining, and Imaging
09:31

Visualization of Gut Microbiota-host Interactions via Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, Lectin Staining, and Imaging

Published on: July 9, 2021

Hypervariable loci in the human gut virome.

Samuel Minot1, Stephanie Grunberg, Gary D Wu

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|February 23, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The human gut virome exhibits widespread, targeted genetic hypervariation in specific DNA virus genes. This variation, linked to abundant viral reverse-transcriptases, allows for rapid amino acid diversification and immune evasion.

More Related Videos

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
09:40

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 24, 2026

Visualization of Gut Microbiota-host Interactions via Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, Lectin Staining, and Imaging
09:31

Visualization of Gut Microbiota-host Interactions via Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, Lectin Staining, and Imaging

Published on: July 9, 2021

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
09:40

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins

Published on: June 11, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Genetic variation is crucial for microbial adaptation, particularly in immune evasion and drug resistance.
  • Studies on genetic variation in complex communities like the human microbiome are limited.
  • Understanding viral genetic diversity in the human gut is essential for comprehending host-microbe interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate natural genetic variation in DNA viruses within the human gastrointestinal tract.
  • To identify and characterize hotspots of extreme genetic variation in gut viruses.
  • To explore the genetic mechanisms and evolutionary implications of viral hypervariation.

Main Methods:

  • Sequencing of 48 billion bases of viral DNA from the lower gastrointestinal tract of 12 human volunteers.
  • Analysis of viral genomes to identify regions of high genetic variation.
  • Comparative analysis of hypervariable loci with known viral genes and reverse-transcriptase associated genes.

Main Results:

  • Most viral genomes showed low variation, but 51 loci (~100 bp) exhibited extreme hypervariation (up to 96% unique amino acid sequences).
  • Hypervariable regions included genes homologous to bacteriophage tail-fiber genes and previously undescribed gene types, such as Ig-superfamily proteins.
  • Hypervariation was associated with a specific clade of viral reverse-transcriptases, abundant in gut viruses but less common in bacteria.
  • Variation was targeted to 5'-AAY-3' asparagine codons, enabling amino acid diversification without stop codons.

Conclusions:

  • The human gut virome displays widespread, targeted hypervariation in specific viral genes.
  • Novel gene types are subject to this hypervariation, alongside known targets.
  • A specific viral reverse-transcriptase clade is strongly associated with this phenomenon.
  • These findings highlight the dynamic nature of gut viruses and their potential for rapid adaptation.