Microbiome

Virus

Bacteria

Gut flora

Bioinformatics

Biology

Microbiology

Gene

Infectivity

Host (biology)

Metagenomics

Virology

Ecology

Human virome

Immunology

Dysbiosis

Commensalism

Genetics

Frontiers in Immunology

The human body is inhabited by a diverse microbial community that is collectively coined as commensal microbiota. Recent research has greatly advanced our understanding of how the commensal microbiota affects host health. Among the various kinds of pathogenic infections of the host, viral infections constitute one of the most serious public health problems worldwide. During the infection process, viruses may have substantial and intimate interactions with the commensal microbiota. A plethora of evidence suggests that the commensal microbiota regulates and is in turn regulated by invading viruses through diverse mechanisms, thereby having stimulatory or suppressive roles in viral infections. Furthermore, the integrity of the commensal microbiota can be disturbed by invading viruses, causing dysbiosis in the host and further influencing virus infectivity. In the present article, we discuss current insights into the regulation of viral infection by the commensal microbiota. We also draw attention to the disruption of microbiota homeostasis by several viruses.

The Commensal Microbiota and Viral Infection: A Comprehensive Review