title: Gut inflammation and immunity: what is the role of the human gut virome?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University "Magna Graecia", Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Focà
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University "Magna Graecia", Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Carla
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8685-4717
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Liberto
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University "Magna Graecia", Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quirino
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University "Magna Graecia", Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marascio
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University "Magna Graecia", Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zicca
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University "Magna Graecia", Viale Europa, Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pavia
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000378:metabolism; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D064307:Microbiota; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000821:virology; D014780:Viruses / Q000378:metabolism*