Gut Inflammation and Immunity: What Is the Role of the Human Gut Virome?

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  • Alfredo Focà
    Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University “Magna Graecia”, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
  • Maria Carla Liberto
    Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University “Magna Graecia”, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
  • Angela Quirino
    Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University “Magna Graecia”, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
  • Nadia Marascio
    Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University “Magna Graecia”, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
  • Emilia Zicca
    Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University “Magna Graecia”, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
  • Grazia Pavia
    Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University “Magna Graecia”, Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy

Description

<jats:p>The human virome comprises viruses that infect host cells, virus-derived elements in our chromosomes, and viruses that infect other organisms, including bacteriophages and plant viruses. The development of high-throughput sequencing techniques has shown that the human gut microbiome is a complex community in which the virome plays a crucial role into regulation of intestinal immunity and homeostasis. Nevertheless, the size of the human virome is still poorly understood. Indeed the enteric virome is in a continuous and dynamic equilibrium with other components of the gut microbiome and the gut immune system, an interaction that may influence the health and disease of the host. We review recent evidence on the viruses found in the gastrointestinal tract, discussing their interactions with the resident bacterial microbiota and the host immune system, in order to explore the potential impact of the virome on human health.</jats:p>

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