Enteric Virome and Carcinogenesis in the Gut

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Oncology
• Virology

Background:

• Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern.
• The gut microbiota's role in CRC is increasingly recognized, with a focus on bacteria.
• The viral component of the microbiome, the virome, remains understudied in CRC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and bioinformatics for studying the virome.
• To discuss current findings on virome alterations in CRC.
• To identify future research directions for viral detection and its role in CRC.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies.
• Bioinformatic analysis of viral sequences from clinical specimens.
• Correlation analysis of virome composition with CRC status.

Main Results:

• HTS and bioinformatics enable better understanding of viral influence on CRC.
• Specific virome modulations correlate with CRC development and progression.
• Challenges exist in viral HTS detection in clinical samples.

Conclusions:

• The virome has a more significant role in carcinogenesis and cancer progression than previously thought.
• Viruses, both bacteriophages and human viruses, are clinically relevant for CRC pathology, prognosis, and treatment.
• A paradigm shift towards understanding microbial community interactions is needed for CRC etiology.