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Astrovirus and the microbiome

Valerie Cortez1, Elisa Margolis1, Stacey Schultz-Cherry1

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.

Current Opinion in Virology
|June 5, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Astroviruses cause complex diseases across many hosts. Further research is needed to understand how these viruses impact the gut environment and the role of gut microbes in astrovirus infections.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Astroviruses are significant pathogens causing gastrointestinal illness in humans.
  • These viruses infect diverse hosts, leading to a range of diseases.
  • The intricate host-microbe interactions governing astrovirus pathogenesis remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the complexity of astrovirus infections.
  • To emphasize the need for further research into host-microbe interactions.
  • To explore the impact of astrovirus on the gut microenvironment and microbiota.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent findings on animal astrovirus infections.
  • Analysis of host-microbe interactions in astrovirus disease.
  • Discussion of the consequences of viral infection on the gut ecosystem.

Main Results:

  • Astrovirus infections can exert both beneficial and detrimental effects on the host.
  • Astroviruses can alter the gut microenvironment.
  • The host microbiota plays a role in astrovirus infection dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • Astrovirus pathogenesis is complex and multifactorial.
  • Further investigation into the gut microenvironment and microbiota is crucial for understanding astrovirus disease.
  • In-depth studies are required to elucidate the full spectrum of astrovirus-host interactions.

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