Saeed NK, Elbeltagi YM, Al-Beltagi M. Unveiling the viral dimension: The paediatric gut virome as a key modulator of gastrointestinal metabolic, and neurodevelopmental health. World J Virol 2026; 15(1): 118362 [DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v15.i1.118362]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, MD, PhD, Consultant, Head, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, 1 Hassan Radwan Street, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
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Pediatrics
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Review
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Mar 25, 2026 (publication date) through Mar 13, 2026
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Publication Name
World Journal of Virology
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2220-3249
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Saeed NK, Elbeltagi YM, Al-Beltagi M. Unveiling the viral dimension: The paediatric gut virome as a key modulator of gastrointestinal metabolic, and neurodevelopmental health. World J Virol 2026; 15(1): 118362 [DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v15.i1.118362]
World J Virol. Mar 25, 2026; 15(1): 118362 Published online Mar 25, 2026. doi: 10.5501/wjv.v15.i1.118362
Unveiling the viral dimension: The paediatric gut virome as a key modulator of gastrointestinal metabolic, and neurodevelopmental health
Nermin K Saeed, Yousif M Elbeltagi, Mohammed Al-Beltagi
Nermin K Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Governmental Hospitals, Ministry of Health, Manama 12, Bahrain
Nermin K Saeed, Medical Microbiology Section, Department of Pathology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Busaiteen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Yousif M Elbeltagi, Department of Medicine, The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Busaiteen 15503, Muharraq, Bahrain
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt
Mohammed Al-Beltagi, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 26671, Manama, Bahrain
Co-first authors: Nermin K Saeed and Yousif M Elbeltagi.
Author contributions: Saeed NK contributed to conceptualization, methodology, data curation, formal analysis, and writing the original draft; Elbeltagi YM contributed to literature search, visualization, including the design of tables and mechanistic figures, and writing the original draft; Al-Beltagi M conceptualization, supervision, and critical review and editing of the final manuscript; all authors have critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript for submission and take responsibility for the integrity of the work.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that this research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Furthermore, the authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Corresponding author: Mohammed Al-Beltagi, MD, PhD, Consultant, Head, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, 1 Hassan Radwan Street, Tanta 31511, Algharbia, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com
Received: December 31, 2025 Revised: January 27, 2026 Accepted: February 13, 2026 Published online: March 25, 2026 Processing time: 73 Days and 12.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: The pediatric gut virome is an active biological rheostat that shapes the developmental trajectory of the infant immune system and metabolic health. Beyond serving as a reservoir for pathogens, this complex viral ecosystem-dominated by bacteriophages-governs bacterial population dynamics through lytic pressure and horizontal gene transfer. During the critical first 1000 days of life, virome disturbances triggered by antibiotics, formula feeding, or neonatal intensive care unit hospitalization can drive the pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and systemic autoimmunity. Moving forward, “illuminating” viral dark matter and leveraging precision tools such as phage therapy will be essential to transitioning toward virome-inclusive, proactive pediatric medicine.
