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Emerging view of the human virome
Kristine M Wylie1, George M Weinstock, Gregory A Storch
1The Genome Insititute, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
Summary
The human virome, encompassing all human viruses, impacts health and disease. Advances in sequencing reveal viral links to conditions and new pathogens, aiding our understanding of microbial influence.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Human Health
Background:
- The human virome includes eukaryotic and prokaryotic viruses residing in or on the human body.
- Both types of viruses significantly impact human health, from minor infections to severe or fatal outcomes.
- Prokaryotic viruses can modulate the human microbiome, affecting its structure and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the human virome and its role in human health and disease.
- To review advancements in virome analysis driven by high-throughput sequencing.
- To highlight the significance of understanding viral communities in human health.
Main Methods:
- Review of progress in virome analysis.
- Application of high-throughput, deep sequencing technologies.
- Association studies linking viruses with clinical phenotypes.
Main Results:
- Identification of novel viruses with potential pathogenic roles.
- Established associations between specific viruses and clinical conditions.
- Demonstrated the critical role of virome analysis in understanding microbial impact on health.
Conclusions:
- Virome analysis is essential for comprehending the influence of microbial communities on human health and disease.
- Further research on the human virome will elucidate its long-term effects on immunity and response to coinfections.
- Understanding the virome holds potential for transforming patient treatment across various clinical syndromes.
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