How 'good' viruses may influence health.

I S L A M A B A D -- Although the role of "good" viruses in human health is still relatively mysterious, we are slowly unraveling the importance of our viral visitors. In this special feature, we introduce a neglected section of the microbiome - the virome. Share on PinterestIllustration of bacteriophages infecting a bacterium. The role of bacteria and our microbiome in health and disease is at the forefront of medical research. We are a long way from answering the many questions posed by recent findings, but it is now firmly established that without our personal fleet of "friendly" microorganisms - our microbiome - we would not thrive. Medical science, however, does not sit on its haunches; its eyes are always fixed on the horizon, straining to describe the shape of things hidden in the far distance. As we struggle to unpick the almost unbearably complex interactions between bacteria and health, the next challenge is already waiting in the wings: the role of the virome. What is the...