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Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Perturbations of Circulating miRNAs in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Detected Using a Multiplexed High-throughput Gene Expression Platform
Published on: November 30, 2016
Gut Virome: What's the Role in Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Francesco Rettura1,2, Christian Lambiase1, Andrea Bottari1
1Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Abstract:
The gut virome, an integral but still poorly understood component of the gut microbiota, is emerging as an important player in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Recent evidence suggests that alterations in virome diversity and phage-bacteria interactions contribute to gut dysbiosis, immune modulation and gut barrier dysfunction in IBS. This review summarises current knowledge on virome alterations in IBS and emphasises the role of bacteriophages in shaping microbial ecology and host responses. Different virome signatures in the different subtypes of IBS highlight the potential of the virome for disease stratification and personalised therapeutic strategies. In addition, we discuss the analytical challenges in virome research and explore novel virome-targeted interventions, including phage therapy and dietary modulation. A deeper understanding of virome dynamics in the gut could open new avenues for precision medicine approaches to treat IBS.
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