The human virome consists of all of the viruses which inhabit the human body, both internally and externally. To be completely accurate, virome refers to all of the genetic material possessed by the viruses housed by the body, while virobiota refers to the viruses themselves. For convenience I'm going to use virome loosely in this article. Contained within the human virome are viruses associated with acute and latent infections, endogenous retroviruses that have integrated themselves into the human genome, and bacteriophages which replicate inside particular bacteria [1]. These viruses play an integral role in the metagenomic interactions constantly taking place in the ecosystems we humans are a part of.
Specific to our interests, the virome heavily influences phenotypic expression, disease susceptibility, immune responses, and the evolution of our genome [2]. Looking at disease susceptibility, some viruses are capable of entering into a state of latency or dormancy which allows them to effectively hide from our immune system until conditions favor their proliferation (dormancy periods can be lifelong) [3]. Viral latency can make us more vulnerable to secondary infections, and as Aranda and Epstein have stated, "Latency is an adaptive phenotype that allows the virus to escape immune host responses and to reactivate and disseminate...upon recognizing danger signals such as stress, neurologic trauma or growth factor deprivation" [4]. Let me briefly digress here: growth factor deprivation can induce cell death; stress and neurologic trauma can be brought about by mercury- or aluminum-containing vaccines (mercury and aluminum deplete glutathione); and stress, neurologic trauma, and growth factor deprivation encourage viral proliferation [5]. When we deny the body the beneficial immunomodulatory effects of wild viral exposure, and instead bombard it with numerous vaccines carrying bird, monkey, pig, and mouse retroviruses, toxic metals, formaldehyde, etc., we can instill disharmony between the innate and adaptive poles of the immune system (the typical Th1/Th2 categorization is too simplistic) and set ourselves up for the presentation of chronic disease [6]. Moreover, because autophagy (the eating of cell contents) proteins function in both the stimulation and suppression of innate and adaptive immune responses, and because viral antagonism of autophagy can worsen the pathogenicity of various viruses, the possible triggering of autophagy dysregulation through the administration of multiple vaccines (especially very early in one's life) may promote the development of metabolic, neurodegenerative, infectious, and cancerous diseases [7] [8] [9]. Getting back on track, viral latency is not purely pathogenic though, as the dormant state of viruses can help us deter microbial infection by boosting the production of interferon-gamma [10]. In fact, viral harboring may (in some cases) compensate for immunodeficiencies stemming from genetic mutations [11]. Furthermore, latent viral "infections" may also positively mold the profile of immune responses to both self and non-self antigens. On the other hand, viral activity can negatively affect our "immunophenotype" or the fashion in which our immune system reacts to antigenic material like pathogens [12]. Indeed, interactions between viruses and disease-susceptibility genes or loci, in combination with input from other microbes as well as environmental and dietary factors, can determine phenotypic expression related to disease manifestation [13]. Digging a little deeper, the simple infectivity of viruses can be altered by certain bacteria or helminths residing in the body [14]. As such, probiotics can offer antiviral and virus-protective effects [15]. Similarly, antiviral action can be delivered to the body indirectly through the use of bacteriophages, specifically bacteriophages that only replicate within pathogenic or unhealthy strains of bacteria. Phage therapy can be very effective and safe as it avoids collateral damage and is self-limiting [16]. Before too long, provirotics may become a term as familiar as probiotics [17]. So, we can't view viruses as purely morbific entities, as it "is often the context that determines whether a virus is deleterious, neutral, or beneficial to the host" [18]. Viruses play a crucial part in the sustainment of the biosphere as they help cycle carbon and nutrients, transfer genes between ecosystems, and guide the evolution of microbes, plants, and animals [19]. Thus, for our own health, it's the terrain that we should be concerned with, for when the terrain is healthy, Mother Nature can handle the details. References:
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AuthorDenton Coleman is an Exercise Physiologist and Medical Researcher. Archives
October 2023
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