It is likely that crAssphage infecting a very common type of intestinal bacteria called Bacteroides

Then, researchers have sought a large database of genetic sequences in data samples north dakota population from persons living in several different continents, searching for the DNA sequence of the virus and the virus found in 75% of samples of human faeces.
But how could such a common virus go unnoticed for so long? One reason may be that previously most researchers have compared DNA samples present to past DNA sequences, said Edwards.
But in the new study, researchers compared the DNA between current samples, looking north dakota population for common sequences. The new virus, north dakota population the researchers drew crAssphage is a type of virus known as a bacteriophage, which means that infects north dakota population bacteria.
It is likely that crAssphage infecting a very common type of intestinal bacteria called Bacteroides, according to the study. Although north dakota population researchers north dakota population demonstrate that the DNA of the virus exists in nature, they have not been able to make the virus to replicate in the laboratory.
"We know it's there, north dakota population but we can not capture it yet," said Edwards. The researchers believe that the virus may be involved in controlling the number of Bacteroidetes bacteria in the gut, said Edwards.
The new discovery adds another piece to the puzzle, to help researchers understand north dakota population how microbes in the gut affect human health, said Amesh Adalja, infectious disease physician at the University north dakota population of Pittsburgh, who was not involved in the study.
Much more research north dakota population is needed to see how the virus interacts with bacteria in the gut and how it can affect health, he said. Adalja also note that just because the virus is common does not mean it is benign.
"But there are enough common conditions that affect humans, and he may be implicated," Adalja said, citing north dakota population obesity and cancer, as examples. The study was published July 24 in the journal Nature north dakota population Communications. [LiveScience]
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