A meta-analysis of infant gut viromes reveals global patterns in bacteriophage community assembly and functional capacity over the first three years of life
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Assembly of the gut microbiota in infancy is an important health determinant, yet the viral component, the virome, remains poorly described. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis of 12 infant cohorts across 8 countries to model gut virome development over the first three years of life. Our results revealed distinct diversity patterns, where viral richness increased significantly over the first eight months of life alongside a loss of community evenness. We define virome developmental velocity, the rate of change between sequential samples, which significantly decreased over time. This was mirrored by community-wide convergence, as infant viromes became more similar with age. Functionally, the transition to a stable state involved a significant decrease in extracellular temperate phages and shifts in phage-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes, which can modulate host metabolism. Our work provides a baseline characterization of gut virome development, marked by a conserved successional trajectory, providing a framework to identify disease-associated perturbations.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Michael Shamash, Corinne F. Maurice
Institution: McGill University
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Awards: G1070425892, Applying fecal virome transplants to restore healthy gut microbiome development in early childhood, Understanding the role of gut bacteriophages in child stunting, Functional dynamics of bacteria-phage interactions in the gut, Bourses de doctorat en recherche — Bactéries, Désordres nutritionnels
OpenAlex ID: W7165147428