THE NEWLY DISCOVERED VIRUS LIVING IN THE GUTS OF HALF THE WORLD'S POPULATION
It’s hard to think of intestinal science as “trendy.” But
from probiotics to your
belly’s microbiome the human
gut and all the organisms that live there are definitely enjoying a moment. The
latest news: researchers at San Diego State University have stumbled onto a
very old but previously undiscovered type of intestinal virus that may play a
role in the development of diseases like diabetes and obesity.
The researchers are calling the virus "crAssphage."
Once they figured out where to find it, crAssphage turned up so often that the
study authors say more than half of all people are likely walking around with
it in their bellies. The fact that the virus is so common means it’s likely
very old—maybe even as old as the human race, the authors suggest.
“Our intestines are
full of bacteria, and we need them to help digest food and adsorb nutrients,”
explains study coauthor Robert Edwards, PhD. He says phages like crAssphage
control the growth of bacteria by infecting them and killing them, just like
wolves control the populations of hares and deer.
Two of the most common bacteria in the intestines are
called Bacteroides and Firmicutes,
Edwards explains, adding that past research suggests the ratio of these two may
have important implications for human health—especially when it comes to
obesity and diabetes. Because crAssphage may infect both of these types of
bacteria, it could also have a part in the development of those
diseases.
“We don't know yet what the role of crAssphage is,”
Edwards stresses. “But a widespread virus like this one is likely to be
implicated in diseases commonly associated with the intestine.”
Why should any of this matter to you? Identifying
crAssphage could be a very important first step when it comes to developing new
gut bacteria-based medical treatments that could one day be used to help diabetics
and others with intestine-related health issues, Roberts explains.
Unfortunately, those types of gut-based treatments are still about 5 years away
from lab or clinical trials, he says.
“There are lots of researchers trying to define the
precise role of bacteria in these diseases,” Edwards adds. “But we don't truly
understand what [these bacteria] are doing at the moment.”
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