Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2025

Author Spotlight: Investigating Bacteriophage-Induced Immune Responses in Gnotobiotic Mice
08:46

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

Published on: January 26, 2024

1.5K

Role of bacteriophages in shaping gut microbial community

Md Rayhan Mahmud1, Sanjida Khanam Tamanna2, Sharmin Akter2

  • 1Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Gut Microbes
|August 21, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophages (phages) are key to gut health, influencing microbial communities and host well-being. Further research is needed to clarify their precise roles and therapeutic potential in the gut ecosystem.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Phages are the most abundant microbes in the gut, significantly impacting host health.
  • Their role in modulating gut microbiota composition and function is an emerging research area.
  • Existing knowledge on phage-gut microbe and phage-human interactions is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review current data on phage structure and ecology in the gut.
  • To explore phage interactions within the gut ecosystem and their impact on host health.
  • To assess the potential of phage-based therapies for gut health.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review of phage ecology, interactions, and therapeutic applications in the gut.
  • Analysis of data on phage structure, development, and prophage activation mechanisms.
  • Review of phage-host interactions and their influence on the immune system.

Main Results:

  • Phages are crucial modulators of gut microbiota structure and function.
  • Evidence suggests phages influence the immune system and gut health.
  • The precise mechanisms of phage-gut microbe interactions require further elucidation.

Conclusions:

  • Phages play a vital role in regulating gut microbiota and host immunity.
  • Further research is essential to fully understand phage influence and develop phage therapies.
  • This review consolidates current knowledge to guide future investigations into phage-based gut health interventions.
Keywords:
Bacteriophageantimicrobialsgut microbiota modulationgut virobiotamodulation of gut metabolitesphage and human immune systemphage therapyprophage activation

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Efficiently Eliminating Bacteriophages from Infected Salmonella Cultures Using Lipopolysaccharides07:19

Author Spotlight: Efficiently Eliminating Bacteriophages from Infected Salmonella Cultures Using Lipopolysaccharides

Published on: June 28, 2024

842
Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics09:23

Understanding the Impact of Temperate Bacteriophages on Their Lysogens Through Transcriptomics

Published on: January 5, 2024

1.8K

Related Concept Videos

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages01:30

Lytic Cycle of Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are specialized viruses that infect bacteria. A key characteristic of phages is their distinctive “head-tail” morphology. A phage begins the infection process (i.e., lytic cycle) by attaching to the outside of a bacterial cell. Attachment is accomplished via proteins in the phage tail that bind to specific receptor proteins on the outer surface of the bacterium. The tail injects the phage’s DNA genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. In the...
70.5K
Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages00:43

Lysogenic Cycle of Bacteriophages

In contrast to the lytic cycle, phages infecting bacteria via the lysogenic cycle do not immediately kill their host cell. Instead, they combine their genome with the host genome, allowing the bacteria to replicate the phage DNA along with the bacterial genome. The incorporated copy of the phage genome is called the prophage. Some prophages can re-activate and enter the lytic cycle. This often occurs in response to a perturbation, such as DNA damage, but can also transpire in the absence of...
62.0K
Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine01:29

Bacterial Flora of the Large Intestine

The gut microbiome is formed by a vast and diverse community of bacteria that colonizes our large intestine. These bacteria start residing in the gut from birth and continue diversifying throughout life, influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and stress. The gut bacterial community also includes bacteria from food and those that enter the colon through the anus.
The normal gut flora of the colon plays a critical role in generating essential vitamins such as vitamins K, B5, and B7.
401
CRISPR and crRNAs02:53

CRISPR and crRNAs

Bacteria and archaea are susceptible to viral infections just like eukaryotes; therefore, they have developed a unique adaptive immune system to protect themselves. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) are present in more than 45% of known bacteria and 90% of known archaea.
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
16.9K
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
1.4K
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
35.1K