Studying the gut virome in the metagenomic era: challenges and perspectives

BMC Biol. 2019 Oct 28;17(1):84. doi: 10.1186/s12915-019-0704-y.

Abstract

The human gut harbors a complex ecosystem of microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses. With the rise of next-generation sequencing technologies, we have seen a quantum leap in the study of human-gut-inhabiting bacteria, yet the viruses that infect these bacteria, known as bacteriophages, remain underexplored. In this review, we focus on what is known about the role of bacteriophages in human health and the technical challenges involved in studying the gut virome, of which they are a major component. Lastly, we discuss what can be learned from studies of bacteriophages in other ecosystems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriophages / physiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Metagenome*
  • Metagenomics