Multi-omics in Viral Microbiome

The human virus microbiome, also known as the human virome, comprises the viruses that reside on or within the human body, either as pathogens or as commensals. Most of these viruses do not cause any symptoms or disease and are therefore silent. However, the virome can also modulate the immune system, the microbiome, and the host gene expression, and may be associated with various diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurological conditions. The study of the human virome faces several challenges, such as the diversity and complexity of viral genomes, the absence of universal markers for viral detection, and the dynamic interactions between viruses and their hosts. In this chapter, we review the current state of the art and the future directions of multi-omics approaches for exploring the diversity and function of viral microbiomes.