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Bacteriophages of the Human Virome
Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body. They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the huma…
Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body.
They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome.
In the gut, bacteriophages may integrate their genome, carrying beneficial genes for antibiotic resistance or specialized metabolism into the bacterial genome through lysogenic conversion.
These genetic transfers may alter the stability and resilience of the gut microbiota, particularly under selective pressures such as antibiotic exposures.
On mucosal surfaces, bacteriophages bind via capsid proteins to mucin glycoproteins, concentrating at the epithelial barrier and forming a defense against invading bacteria.
These phages can kill the invading bacteria before they reach epithelial cells, protecting the host.
Some bacteriophages enhance bacterial pathogenicity.
For example, the CTXϕ bacteriophage injects genes encoding cholera toxin into Vibrio cholerae. Strains lysogenized by CTXϕ become pathogenic, produce cholera toxin, and infect the host gut epithelium.
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Q1: Where are bacteriophages found in the human body?
Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body and may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome. In the gut, phage densities reach up to 10⁹ particles per gram of fecal matter. They concentrate on mucosal surfaces including the respiratory tract and epithelial barriers, where they bind via capsid proteins to mucin glycoproteins.
Q2: How do bacteriophages protect the host through mucosal defense?
On mucosal surfaces, bacteriophages bind to mucin glycoproteins via capsid proteins, concentrating at the epithelial barrier. This interaction, described by the Bacteriophage Adherence to Mucus (BAM) model, allows phages to kill invading bacteria before they reach epithelial cells. This non-host-derived immune barrier enhances protection in the gut and respiratory tract.
Q3: What is lysogenic conversion and how does it affect gut bacteria?
Lysogenic conversion occurs when bacteriophages integrate their genome into bacterial DNA, carrying beneficial genes for antibiotic resistance or specialized metabolism. These genetic transfers alter the stability and resilience of the gut microbiota, particularly under selective pressures such as antibiotic exposures. This lysogenic lifestyle promotes horizontal gene transfer, enhancing microbial adaptability and maintaining ecological balance.
Q4: How can bacteriophages increase bacterial pathogenicity?
Some bacteriophages enhance bacterial pathogenicity by injecting virulence genes into bacterial genomes. For example, the CTXϕ bacteriophage injects genes encoding cholera toxin into Vibrio cholerae. Strains lysogenized by CTXϕ become pathogenic, produce cholera toxin, and infect the host gut epithelium, demonstrating how prophage-mediated gene transfer can convert harmless bacteria into pathogens.
Q5: What role do bacteriophages play in the human virome?
Bacteriophages represent the most abundant viral entities in the human virome, with many belonging to orders such as Caudovirales and Microviridae, while a substantial proportion remains unclassified as viral dark matter. Beyond localized effects in the gut, emerging evidence suggests an intra-body phageome where phages translocate across epithelial barriers into blood and lymph, potentially contributing to immunomodulation throughout the body.
Q6: How do bacteriophages influence microbial fitness in the gut?
Bacteriophages influence microbial fitness through prophage-mediated gene exchange, which significantly affects bacterial adaptation and host-associated microbial homeostasis. By carrying and transferring genes for antibiotic resistance and specialized metabolism, phages enhance bacterial adaptability. This genetic exchange maintains ecological balance in the gut rather than causing immediate bacterial lysis, promoting a stable microbial community.
Q7: What are the different types of bacteriophages found in the human body?
Bacteriophages in the human body belong to various taxonomic orders, with Caudovirales and Microviridae being well-characterized groups. However, a substantial proportion of bacteriophages remains unclassified, referred to as viral dark matter. These diverse phages occupy different ecological niches throughout the body, from the gut to mucosal surfaces, each contributing distinct functions to the human virome.