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Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice
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Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice

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Bacteriophages, gut bacteria, and microbial pathways interplay in cardiometabolic health

Daniel Kirk1, Ricardo Costeira1, Alessia Visconti2

  • 1Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, St Thomas Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK.

Cell Reports
|February 1, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria and can regulate the gut microbiome, influencing cardiometabolic health. Understanding the phageome is crucial for developing phage therapy and fecal viral transplants for these diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Virology
  • Human Health

Background:

  • Cardiometabolic diseases are a major cause of death in Western countries.
  • Risk factors include genetics, lifestyle, diet, and the gut microbiome.
  • Bacteriophages (phages), viruses that infect bacteria, significantly influence gut bacterial communities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce the phageome as a key component of the gut microbiome.
  • To explore the potential of phage therapy and fecal viral transplants for cardiometabolic diseases.
  • To review current research on the phageome's role in cardiometabolic health.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of phageome research in cardiometabolic diseases.
  • Discussion of phage therapy and fecal viral transplants.
  • Analysis of indirect phageome influence via gut bacteria and metabolites.

Main Results:

  • Phages are key regulators of gut bacteria and their activities.
  • Phage manipulation of bacteria offers therapeutic potential for cardiometabolic diseases.
  • The phageome may indirectly impact cardiometabolic health through microbial metabolites.

Conclusions:

  • A deeper understanding of the phageome is necessary for its therapeutic application.
  • Phage-based interventions show promise for managing cardiometabolic diseases.
  • The gut phageome represents a novel target for improving cardiometabolic health.

Keywords:
CP: MetabolismCP: Microbiologybacteriophagecardiometabolic diseasesfecal virome transplantmicrobiomeobesityphage therapyphageome

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