The human gut virome: Inter-individual variation and dynamic response to diet

Immense populations of viruses are present in the human gut and other body sites. Understanding the role of these populations (the human "virome") in health and disease requires a much deeper understanding of their composition and dynamics in the face of environmental perturbation. Here, we investigate viromes from human subjects on a controlled feeding regimen. Longitudinal fecal samples were analyzed by metagenomic sequencing of DNA from virus-like particles (VLP) and total microbial communities. Assembly of 336 Mb of VLP sequence yielded 7175 contigs, many identifiable as complete or partial bacteriophage genomes. Contigs were rich in viral functions required in lytic and lysogenic growth, as well as…

• CA
  Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
• PD
  Pennsylvania Department of Health
• UO
  University of Pennsylvania

  Award: UL1RR024134
• CA
  Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
• GC
  Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: AI39368, UL1RR024134, DK050306, P30 DK050306
• NC
  National Center for Research Resources

  Award: UL1RR024134