Not just passengers: Phages as agents of genetic exchange in fecal microbiota transplantation
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Date
2026-05-13
Authors
Gonzalez Pastor, Belén
Shkoporov, Andrey
Hill, Colin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cell Press
Published Version
Abstract
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective therapy for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection and is increasingly being explored for other microbiota-associated diseases. However, general research has largely focused on bacterial engraftment, overlooking the contribution of the gut virome. In this perspective, we highlight phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer (HGT) as a potentially influential process occurring following FMT. Donor-derived phages may potentially influence community structure, engraft in resident bacteria, and modulate microbial functions or host physiology. In addition, temperate phages are well-equipped to mobilize bacterial genes, such as metabolic functions, stress-response traits, and antibiotic resistance determinants, raising the possibility that gene flow could well contribute to FMT outcomes. We propose a conceptual model in which phages act as bidirectional mediators of adaptation, not only accompanying bacterial communities but also influencing gut ecosystems in subtle, yet potentially consequential, ways.
Description
Keywords
Bacteriophage , FMT , HGT , Microbiome , Virome , [Microbiology] , virome , microbiome
Citation
Gonzalez Pastor, B, Shkoporov, A & Hill, C 2026, 'Not just passengers: Phages as agents of genetic exchange in fecal microbiota transplantation', Cell Host and Microbe, vol. 34, no. 5, pp. 780-789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2026.03.017