Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2025
Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Gut virome profile in healthy Saudi children
Mohammad I El Mouzan1, Asaad A Assiri2, Ahmed A Al Sarkhy3
1Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology Unit, College of Medicine and King Saud University Medical City, King Khaled University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Insights
The gut virome of healthy Saudi children is dominated by Caudovirales bacteriophages, particularly Enterobacteria phages. This viral profile shows distinct differences compared to existing literature, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Microbiome Research
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Viruses play a critical role in both health and disease.
- Understanding the gut virome is essential for comprehending host-microbe interactions.
- Previous studies have not fully characterized the viral landscape in healthy children from Saudi Arabia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To profile the viruses present in the gut of healthy Saudi school-aged children.
- To establish a baseline understanding of the pediatric gut virome in this population.
Main Methods:
- Stool samples collected from 20 healthy Saudi children in Riyadh.
- Shotgun metagenomic sequencing performed on isolated viral DNA.
- Abundance of viral organisms analyzed across phylogenetic levels.
Main Results:
- Caudovirales were the most abundant bacteriophage order (77%).
- Siphoviridae, Myoviridae, and Podoviridae families predominated within Caudovirales.
- Enterobacteria phages were the most abundant viral species identified.
Conclusions:
- The gut virome profile in healthy Saudi children differs from previously reported data.
- Further research with larger sample sizes and diverse populations is necessary.
- Understanding the gut virome is crucial for disease pathogenesis and fecal microbiota therapy outcomes.
Background:
The role of viruses is well known in health and disease. The aim of this report was to describe the profile of viruses in the gut of healthy Saudi children.
Methods:
In 20 randomly selected school age children from Riyadh, stool samples were collected in cryovials and stored at -80° C. At the time of analysis, the samples were sent by express mail in a temperature-controlled container to the laboratory in the USA, Viral DNA was isolated and shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed. The abundance of each organism was expressed as an average relative percentage across the viral phylogenetic tree from phyla to species.
Results:
The median age of the children was 11.3 (range 6.8-15.4) years, and 35% were males. Caudovirales were the most abundant bacteriophage order (77%) and Siphoviridae, Myoviridae, and Podoviridae families predominated, accounting for 41%, 25%, and 11%, respectively. Among the viral bacteriophage species, the most abundant were the Enterobacteria phages.
Conclusion:
The profile and abundance of the gut virome in healthy Saudi children reveal important differences from the literature. Further studies from different populations with larger sample sizes are needed to understand the role of gut viruses in the pathogenesis of disease in general and in the response to fecal microbiota therapy in particular.
More Related Videos
05:31Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
13:12Quantitative Analyses of all Influenza Type A Viral Hemagglutinins and Neuraminidases using Universal Antibodies in Simple Slot Blot Assays
Published on: April 4, 2011
Related Concept Videos
01:29Viruses of Archaea
01:20Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...
01:30Acute Pharyngitis
Acute pharyngitis is the inflammation of the back of the throat (pharynx), commonly resulting in a sore throat. It is a frequently encountered condition that prompts individuals to seek medical advice.
Classification
Acute pharyngitis can be categorized based on its underlying cause:
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes