Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41623642›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in microbiology2025

Global research trends in bacteriophage and gut microbiota: a bibliometric and visual analysis from 2012 to 2025.

Hui-Fang Kuang, Xiong-Yilang Jiang, Song-Yan Tie, Kun Lian, Mu-Yi Hao, Hang Xu, Xiao Huang, Yi Yang, Qian Guo, Jie Li and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Hui-Fang Kuang *School of Integrative Traditional Chinese and Western medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Xiong-Yilang Jiang *Department of Joint and Trauma Orthopaedics, Xiangtan Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xiangtan, China.
Song-Yan TieSchool of Integrative Traditional Chinese and Western medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Kun LianCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Mu-Yi HaoMedical School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Hang XuMedical School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Xiao HuangCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Yi YangCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Qian GuoMedical School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Jie LiCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Ling-Li ChenMedical School of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The gut microbiota constitutes a complex microbial ecosystem that plays a fundamental role in host metabolism and immune homeostasis. As the most abundant viral entities in the gut, bacteriophages are increasingly recognized as key modulators of microbial community structure and function. Nevertheless, the global research landscape and thematic evolution of bacteriophage-gut microbiota studies have not been systematically evaluated. Methods: Publications related to bacteriophages and the gut microbiota published between 2012 and 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases. Bibliometric and visual analyses were conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago to examine publication trends, countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, references, and research hotspots. Results: A total of 687 articles and reviews were included. The annual number of publications increased steadily, with accelerated growth after 2018 and a peak in 2023. China ranked first in publication output, while the United States demonstrated strong centrality in global collaboration networks. The University of California, San Diego and the University of Copenhagen were identified as leading institutions. Highly productive authors included Colin Hill, Bernd Schnabl, Zhang Yue, Li Shenghui, and Ross R. Pau. Conclusion: Research on bacteriophage-gut microbiota interactions has shifted from descriptive profiling to mechanistic and translational studies, driven by advances in viral metagenomics and phage culturomics. Increasing attention has been directed toward disease-associated phage-microbiota interactions, particularly in inflammatory bowel disease, as well as the development of precision interventions such as phage therapy and engineered phages. This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of global research trends and highlights emerging directions for future microbiome research.

Indexed as

bacteriophagebibliometric analysisCiteSpacegut microbiotaVOSviewer

Identifiers

PMID41623642
PMCPMC12858188

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.