Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8118, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Cell. 2014 Mar 27;157(1):142-50. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.02.032.
The virome contains the most abundant and fastest mutating genetic elements on Earth. The mammalian virome is constituted of viruses that infect host cells, virus-derived elements in our chromosomes, and viruses that infect the broad array of other types of organisms that inhabit us. Virome interactions with the host cannot be encompassed by a monotheistic view of viruses as pathogens. Instead, the genetic and transcriptional identity of mammals is defined in part by our coevolved virome, a concept with profound implications for understanding health and disease.
病毒组包含地球上最丰富和变异最快的遗传元素。哺乳动物病毒组由感染宿主细胞的病毒、我们染色体中的病毒衍生元件以及感染栖息在我们体内的广泛其他类型生物体的病毒组成。病毒组与宿主的相互作用不能用病毒作为病原体的单一论观点来涵盖。相反,哺乳动物的遗传和转录特征部分由我们共同进化的病毒组定义,这一概念对理解健康和疾病具有深远的影响。