Virome biogeography in the primate lower gastrointestinal tract. rhesus macaque viromes

The composition of gastrointestinal tract viromes has been associated with multiple diseases. Our understanding of virus communities in the GI tract is still very limited. Here we defined the viromes in the gastrointestinal tract of 15 rhesus macaques with chronic diarrhea. Luminal content samples from terminal ileum, proximal and distal colon were collected at necropsy while samples from the rectum were collected antemortem using a fecal loop. The composition and ecological parameters associated with the terminal ileum virome were distinct from the colon and rectum samples whereas samples collected from the colon and rectum were generally statistically indistinguishable from each other. Given their close phylogenetic relationship to humans and similarities in anatomy, physiology, genetics and immunology, non-human primates are an important model for many types of translational research. Our analysis provides support for using fecal loop sampling of the rectum as a proxy of the colonic virome in humans.