Unveiling the Human Brain Virome in Brodmann Area 46: Novel Insights Into Dysbiosis and Its Association With...

Research suggests a potential role of the oral-neuro and gut-brain axes in schizophrenia, involving non-brain microbiomes such as salivary and gut microbiomes. However, the blood-brain barrier effectively prevents microorganism entry. Additionally, despite approximately 8% of the human genome consisting of retroviruses and the established link between viral infections and schizophrenia, the presence of a resident virome (a viral component of the microbiome) in the brain and its association with mental disorders remain unexplored.

Whole-genome sequencing raw data from postmortem Brodmann Area 46 (BA46) tissue from 49 individuals (20 healthy controls [HCs], 29 with schizophrenia [SCZs]) obtained from the NCBI SRA database from BioProject: PRJNA422380.Virome profiles were retrieved using Metaphlan3, and viral signatures were identified using linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe). Mann-Whitney tests and receiver operating characteristic curve validated the viral signatures.

In BA46, 30 distinct species representing 9 phyla, 10 classes, 10 orders, 13 families, and 19 genera were identified. HCs exhibited greater alpha diversity, and there were significant differences in beta diversity between the groups. LEfSe analysis highlighted distinct viral levels, including Escherichia virus Lambda, Escherichia virus phiV10, Human endogenous retrovirus K, Taterapox virus, Alcelaphine gammaherpesvirus 1, and Bovine gammaherpesvirus 4 in HCs, while Glypta fumiferanae ichnovirus and unknown virus showed higher levels in schizophrenia.

This is the first study to identify a human brain virome associated with schizophrenia in BA46. Brain virome dysbiosis may be associated with mental illness, and viral signatures may serve as biomarkers for the early detection of schizophrenia.