Gut virome in necrotizing enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a sudden, often fatal disease associated with preterm birth. Gut bacterial dysbiosis has been implicated in NEC, but less is known about the potential role of the virome. Furthermore, little is known about the development of the virome in preterm infants who do not develop NEC. The goal of this study is to characterize the development of the gut DNA virome in preterm infants and investigate the relationship between the virome and NEC. We conducted metagenomic sequencing of longitudinal stool samples from preterm infants who did and did not develop NEC, collected during the first three months of life. Describing the longitudinal development of the virome in preterm infants and characterizing viral signatures associated with NEC could help identify infants at increased risk of developing NEC.