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Virulent coliphages in 1-year-old children fecal samples are fewer, but more infectious than temperate coliphages

Aurélie Mathieu1, Moïra Dion2,3, Ling Deng4

  • 1Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.

Nature Communications
|January 19, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Temperate bacteriophages dominate children's gut viromes, but virulent phages show greater infectivity against E. coli strains. Virulent phages may significantly impact gut microbiota dynamics.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Human Gut Microbiota

Background:

  • Bacteriophages are key components of the human gut microbiota.
  • Their precise influence on gut microbial community dynamics remains largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of coliphages in the gut microbiota of 1-year-old children.
  • To determine the infectivity and host range of temperate versus virulent phages targeting E. coli.

Main Methods:

  • Cultivation of temperate phages from 900 E. coli strains.
  • Isolation of coliphages from the viral fraction of 648 fecal samples.
  • Host range testing of 150 isolated phages against 75 E. coli strains.

Main Results:

  • 63% of E. coli strains harbored phages; 24% of viromes contained E. coli-targeting phages.
  • Temperate phages exhibited limited infectivity against gut E. coli strains.
  • Virulent phages demonstrated higher infectivity, killing up to 68% of tested strains.

Conclusions:

  • While temperate coliphages are prevalent in children's fecal samples, virulent phages possess greater infectivity and a broader host range.
  • Virulent phages likely play a significant role in shaping the dynamics of the gut microbiota.

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