Welcome back to the Mind Gut Conversation. In this episode, Dr. Mayer talks with one of the leading scientists and thought leaders in the field of gut-microbiome research, Dr. Colin Hill. He addresses the topic of the gut virome, the millions of virus living in our gut, a topic rarely addressed in the lay media. 

We discuss some wide ranging questions during this interview, including:   

1. What is the gut virome and what do we know about it?

2. How do viruses interact with bacteria: is it a symbiotic or a predator-prey interaction?

3. How is the stability of our microbiome accomplished in an ecosystem where virus constantly kill microbes?

4. Can viruses and bacteria can form symbiotic relationships, enhancing the functions of the bacteria?

5. Does the virome, in particular the bacteriophages, play an important role in the many disease states in which the composition of the microbiome is altered?   

6. Is there any evidence to date, that gut viruses play a role in the pathophysiology of certain neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, which in many patients start in the gut.

7. Does diet play a role in the composition of the virome?  

8. And much more.

Dr. Hill, has a Ph.D in molecular microbiology, is a Professor in the School of Microbiology at University College Cork, Ireland and is a Principal Investigator in APC Microbiome Ireland.  Dr. Hill has an unparalleled knowledge not only of the microbiome science but also of its clinical implications.

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