The emerging role of the gut virome in necrotizing enterocolitis

Cong Yi; Jia Chen; Xiang She

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30496

The emerging role of the gut virome in necrotizing enterocolitis

Heliyon. 2024 Apr 29;10(9):e30496. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30496. eCollection 2024 May 15.

Authors

Cong Yi¹, Jia Chen¹, Xiang She¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Mianyang Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Mianyang, 621000, China.

Abstract

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in neonates, particularly preterm infants. Many factors can lead to NEC, but microbial dysbiosis is one of the most important risk factors that can induce this disease. Given the major role of the gut virome in shaping bacterial homeostasis, virome research is a fledgling but rapidly evolving area in the field of microbiome that is increasingly connected to human diseases, including NEC. This review provides an overview of the development of the gut virome in newborns, discusses its emerging role in NEC, and explores promising therapeutic applications, including phage therapy and fecal virome transplantation.

Keywords: Gut virome; Necrotizing enterocolitis; Therapy.

Publication types

Review