In general, viruses are associated with a disease. But our bodies are full of bacteria and viruses that cohabit especially in our gastrointestinal network. The bacteria in babies’ microbiota are known, and we know how important they are to protect them, but what do we know about the viruses that their bodies contain? Danish scientists examined the dirty diaper stools of 647 one-year-old babiesas they explain in the review Science Daily.
“We have found an exceptionally large number of unknown viruses in babies’ diapers: about 200 previously undiscovered families. This means that very early in life, healthy children harbor a wide variety of viruses.“, point out the researchers. In all, 10,000 viral species have been counted, from 248 different families of virusesof which only 16 were known to scientists.
Viruses that help babies protect themselves
90% are “bacteriophages” i.e. viruses whose host is a bacterium, and which, in fact, do not attack the baby’s cells. That’s why they don’t get sick from them. These bacteriophages would even be allies of the immune system. They would also be the ones who would help the organization to produce and then maintain a balanced intestinal microbiota.
They hypothesized that if babies’ bodies digested so many viruses, they would then be able to protect themselves from chronic diseases, such as asthma or diabetes, later in life.
Source :
- Your baby’s gut is crawling with unknown viruses, Science DailyApril 11, 2023
