Deciphering the viral landscape in gastric cancer: comprehensive characterization and identification of the gastric cancer virome

作者：Dan Xiang, Shaoying Li, Jiayi Zuo, Chenchen Mao, Yangxuan Lin, Cong Long, Pingping Cai, Weiwei Liu, Xiaorong Lu, Miaofang Xiao, Wangkai Xie, Chenbin Chen, Dianfeng Mei, Kezhi Lin, Zheng Han, Xian Shen, Xiangyang Xue, Shurong Shen · 发表于：mBio · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1128/mbio.00551-25 · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research、Viral-associated cancers and disorders、Bacteriophages and microbial interactions

Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms and tumors arising from uncontrolled cell proliferation can be intricately linked through the lens of viromics. This study aimed to delineate the landscape of viral infections in gastric cancer, focusing on the relationship between pathogenic microorganisms and tumorigenesis. By conducting transcriptomic sequencing of gastric cancer tissues, we identified gastric cancer-associated viruses from raw transcriptomic data. This methodology was validated using public databases and experimental evidence, ensuring the authenticity of viral detection. Single-cell data further identified specific cells harboring these viruses and elucidated the correlation between viral gene expression and the genesis and progression of gastric cancer. Common tumor viruses, such as human endogenous retrovirus (HERV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), along with unique DNA viruses and bacteriophages, were detected in gastric cancer. Additionally, these viruses have been detected in both tumor and immune cells, indicating a close association between viral gene expression and the development of gastric cancer. This study advances the technique of screening viruses from transcriptomes, charting the distribution of viruses within tumors, clarifying the interplay between viruses and cancer, and identifying previously unknown viruses related to the occurrence and progression of cancer. IMPORTANCE: In our study, we have carefully...