The human gut microbiota and virome: Potential therapeutic implications

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• The human gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem vital for host health, encompassing bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
• The viral component, or virome, remains incompletely characterized, with recent discoveries of plant viruses, giant viruses, and abundant bacteriophages.
• Understanding the gut virome is crucial for comprehending the overall gut microbial ecosystem.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the latest evidence on the composition and function of the human gut virome.
• To explore potential future therapeutic applications of the gut virome in human health.
• To clarify the role of the gut virome within the broader gut microbial ecosystem.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing new metagenomic techniques to reconstruct entire viral genomes from gut genetic material.
• Analyzing existing literature and recent studies on gut virome composition and function.
• Synthesizing findings to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge.

Main Results:

• Metagenomic methods have significantly advanced the ability to identify and characterize gut viruses.
• The human gut harbors a diverse range of viruses, including bacteriophages, which play a significant role.
• Emerging evidence suggests the gut virome has critical functions and potential clinical relevance.

Conclusions:

• The gut virome is an integral and dynamic component of the human gut ecosystem.
• Further research into the gut virome holds promise for novel therapeutic strategies.
• Clarifying the virome's role is essential for a holistic understanding of gut health and disease.