title: Exploiting gut bacteriophages for human health.
abstract: The human gut contains approximately 10(15) bacteriophages (the 'phageome'), probably the richest concentration of biological entities on earth. Mining and exploiting these potential 'agents of change' is an attractive prospect. For many years, phages have been used to treat bacterial infections in humans and more recently have been approved to reduce pathogens in the food chain. Phages have also been studied as drug or vaccine delivery vectors to help treat and prevent diseases such as cancer and chronic neurodegenerative conditions. Individual phageomes vary depending on age and health, thus providing a useful biomarker of human health as well as suggesting potential interventions targeted at the gut microbiota.
authors.affiliation: School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalmasso
authors.affiliation: School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: c.hill@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Teagasc Biotechnology Centre, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: R Paul
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019649:Food Industry / Q000379:methods; D005516:Food Microbiology / Q000379:methods*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014765:Viral Vaccines
keywords: bacteriophage; human health; phage therapy; phageome