The Gut Phageome: How Bacteriophages Shape Your Microbiome

Discover how the gut phageome shapes your microbiome: bacteriophages—the viruses that infect bacteria—play a guiding role in shaping digestion, immunity, and overall health. The gut phageome helps determine which bacterial strains thrive, drives horizontal gene transfer, and influences the metabolic outputs that matter for nutrient absorption and gut comfort. By modulating bacterial communities and their functions, phages can indirectly affect immune signaling and mucosal barrier integrity, contributing to inflammation control and resilience against pathogens. A deeper look at the gut phageome offers a more complete view of why two people with similar diets can have different digestion and immunity. To translate phageome science into practical health insights, InnerBuddies offers a white-label Gut Health Operating System that companies can use to power their gut microbiome testing products. The platform includes a Gut Microbiome Health Index, a score from 0 to 100 that summarizes overall gut health and is built on an exclusive IP deal with EAFIT University in Colombia. It also features Bacteria Abundances—covering a top 40 panel with healthy-cohort comparisons—and Bacteria Functions, where metabolic roles are labeled as positive or negative, so you can see where functional potential aligns with health norms. Target Group Analysis dives into how the gut microbiome and phage-related dynamics relate to specific audiences—Healthy Aging, Endurance Sport, Skin & Hair Health, and more—providing targeted scoring and actionable recommendations. And with Personalized Nutrition Advice drawn from 3-day food diaries matched to stool data, plus Personalized Probiotics and Prebiotics Advice, InnerBuddies helps tailor strategies to your unique gut microbiome, including the phageome context. Because the gut phageome interplays with the bacterial community, practical steps can support balance: diversify fiber intake with a range of sources (resistant starch, inulin-type fibers, and other fermentable carbs), eat polyphenol-rich plants, and include fermented foods to foster a thriving host–phage ecological network. Limit unnecessary antibiotics and minimize NSAID use when possible, as broad disruptions can ripple through phage–bacteria interactions. Maintain regular sleep, steady meals, and stress management, along with hydration and moderate exercise, to support a resilient gut ecosystem. If you’re looking for a guided, personalized plan that aligns with your gut phageome context, InnerBuddies translates your intake and stool data into nutrition and probiotic recommendations tailored to you. Ready to explore how your gut phageome shapes digestion and immunity with a practical, personalized approach? Learn more about our consumer microbiome test and ongoing support through our membership offering, or explore opportunities to partner with InnerBuddies as a B2B client. InnerBuddies microbiome test • InnerBuddies Gut Health Membership • InnerBuddies partner program