title: The human gut microbiota and virome: Potential therapeutic implications.
abstract: Human gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem with several functions integrated in the host organism (metabolic, immune, nutrients absorption, etc.). Human microbiota is composed by bacteria, yeasts, fungi and, last but not least, viruses, whose composition has not been completely described. According to previous evidence on pathogenic viruses, the human gut harbours plant-derived viruses, giant viruses and, only recently, abundant bacteriophages. New metagenomic methods have allowed to reconstitute entire viral genomes from the genetic material spread in the human gut, opening new perspectives on the understanding of the gut virome composition, the importance of gut microbiome, and potential clinical applications. This review reports the latest evidence on human gut "virome" composition and its function, possible future therapeutic applications in human health in the context of the gut microbiota, and attempts to clarify the role of the gut "virome" in the larger microbial ecosystem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Umberto I University Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emidio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarpellini
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ianiro
authors.affiliation: Division of Endoscopy, Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Attili
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Division, Umberto I University Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bassanelli
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Division, Umberto I University Hospital, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Italy. Electronic address: agasbarrini@rm.unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006801:Humans; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Bacteriophages; Giant virus; Gut microbiota; Gut virome; Microviridae