Newly Discovered Virus Lives in Half the World's Population - See more at: http://www.livescience.co

[antares4141]

http://www.livescience.com/46994-ne...tm_campaign=socialfbls&cmpid=social_ls_514627

 

[Deltrus]

Wow that is really cool that gut bacteria can have viruses.

I wonder if these "bacterial" viruses can spread between any animal, because they aren't really dependent on the host's immune system.

There are so many ways our gut influences our health. Nutrient absorption, gut wall integrity keeping bad stuff in, immune system interactions, etc.

 

[BurnA]

Wow that is really cool that gut bacteria can have viruses.

Wileman spoke about this at iime conference and I found it fascinating.

Here is the Canarys write up about it :

Initial results from a study aiming to identify biomarkers by identifying variations in bacteriophage present in people with ME/CFS was presented. Bacteriophage are viruses that attack bacteria, and every bacteria has a specific phage that attacks it, or as Professor Tom Wileman from Norwich University described it:

Big fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite them, and little fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum.

 

[anciendaze]

Please note that most viruses found on human mucous membranes are there to attack bacteria, yeasts and molds, not human cells. The fact that we don't even have a good census of these has bothered me for the last 5 years.

 

[alicec]

Here is the first study in which the entire phage population in the gut of an individual has been sequenced.

Phages are undoubtedly a very important part of controlling the composition of the gut flora and we are just starting to understand something about those in the gut.

Since each phage is specific for a particular bacterium, one can envisage that in future, phage therapy could be an important treatment for dysbiosis.

 

[BurnA]

Since each phage is specific for a particular bacterium, one can envisage that in future, phage therapy could be an important treatment for dysbiosis.

Apparently there are some good videos on youtube about phages

 

[Hip]

If anyone is interested in ingesting some bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) in order to fight bacterial infections in the gut, see this thread:

Bacteriophage therapy (phage therapy) for gut infections / dysbiosis — just $30 instead of $2500