We deeply characterized the early-life gut virome, which consists mainly of bacteriophages (phages) and the diversity of which greatly exceeds bacterial diversity. The virome was associated with later asthma development, independently of the bacterial hosts of the phages; we further uncovered intriguing interactions with immune genetics.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Stokholm, J. et al. Maturation of the gut microbiome and risk of asthma in childhood. Nat. Commun. 9, 141 (2018). This paper presents the link between the early life gut microbiome and childhood asthma development.
Gogokhia, L. et al. Expansion of bacteriophages is linked to aggravated intestinal inflammation and colitis. Cell Host Microbe 25, 285–299.e8 (2019). This research article reports how bacteriophages may stimulate immune responses via TLR9.
Shah, S. A. et al. Expanding known viral diversity in the healthy infant gut. Nat. Microbiol. 8, 986–998 (2023). This paper describes the viral diversity of infants in the COPSAC2010 cohort.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Leal Rodríguez, C. et al. The infant gut virome is associated with preschool asthma risk independently of bacteria. Nat. Med. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02685-x (2023).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Beyond bacteria: early-life gut virome link with childhood asthma development. Nat Med 30, 43–44 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02747-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02747-0