Microbiota and enteric viruses infection

Enteric viruses can directly infect the mammalian gastrointestinal tract which is home to a diverse community of commensal microorganism. Emerging evidence suggests that certain enteric viruses utilize these microbiotas to promote infection. Multiple viruses from different viral families have been indicated to bind directly to microbiota or bacterial components to enhance viral growth, pathogenesis, and transmission. These data indicated that the concept of a single virus infecting a single cell, independent of the environment, needs to be reevaluated. In this review, we will discuss the current knowledge of enteric virus-microbiota interactions and discuss the implications for viral pathogenesis and transmission.