This time, researchers from Waseda University, Tokyo Medical University, and the National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) collected large-scale shotgun metagenomic data from 4 Japanese individuals registered in the Japanese 4,198D (Disease Drug Diet Daily life) microbiome project. By analyzing , we attempted to clarify the whole picture of phages living in the human intestine.

　As a result of constructing an original information analysis pipeline and applying it to metagenomic data, we succeeded in identifying the genome information of more than 1,000 types of phage.Interestingly, many novel phage groups that were previously unknown, although abundant in the human intestine, were also discovered.

　Furthermore, in order to clarify the factors that affect the phage community in the intestine, we performed a comprehensive association analysis, and found that various factors such as age, gender, dietary habits, lifestyle, disease, and drug intake are related to the intestinal phage community. found to be associated with phage communities within theMost of these factors are also consistent with factors that affect the intestinal flora, strongly suggesting the possibility that bacteria and phage communities have a close relationship in the human intestine. I can say.

　This study clarified the overall picture of the phage community inhabiting the human intestine, including novel phage groups. It is expected that control and its application will lead to the development of new treatment methods for diseases.

Paper information:[Nature Communications] Extensive gut virome variation and its associations with host and environmental factors in a population-level cohort