Human virome

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The human virome is the total collection of viruses in and on the human body.^[1][2][3] Viruses in the human body may infect both human cells and other microbes such as bacteria (as with bacteriophages).^[4] Some viruses cause disease, while others may be asymptomatic. Certain viruses are also integrated into the human genome as proviruses or endogenous viral elements.^[1]

Viruses evolve rapidly and hence the human virome changes constantly.^[5] Every human being has a unique virome with a unique balance of species.^[2][6] Lifestyle, age, geographic location, and even the season of the year can affect an individual's exposure to viruses, and one's susceptibility to any disease that might be caused by those viruses is also affected by pre-existing immunity and both viral and human genetics.^[7]

The human virome is far from being completely explored and new viruses are discovered frequently. Unlike the roughly 40 trillion bacteria in a typical human microbiome,^[8] an estimate of the number of viral particles in a healthy adult human is not yet available, although virions generally outnumber individual bacteria 10:1 in nature.^[9] Studying the virome is thought to provide an understanding of microbes in general and how they affect human health and disease.

In January 2024, biologists reported the discovery of "obelisks", a new class of viroid-like elements, and "oblins", their related group of proteins, in the human microbiome.^[10][11]