Newberry, Fiona, Hsieh, Shen-Yuan, Wileman, Tom et al. · Clinical science (London, England : 1979) · 2018 · DOI
This review examines whether changes in the bacteria living in our gut and the viruses that affect those bacteria might contribute to ME/CFS. While previous studies have focused mainly on bacterial changes, this paper points out that viruses—especially those that attack bacteria—are equally important to understand. The authors explain that inconsistencies between different microbiome studies make it hard to draw clear conclusions, and call for more standardized research methods.
This review identifies a critical gap in ME/CFS microbiome research by emphasizing that viruses—not just bacteria—likely play important roles in the disease. By highlighting the lack of consistency between studies, it makes a strong case for developing better research standards that could lead to more reliable discoveries about what causes ME/CFS and how to treat it.
This review does not establish that microbiome or virome changes actually cause ME/CFS, only that alterations exist in affected patients. It does not provide new experimental data proving mechanisms of viral-bacterial interactions in disease pathogenesis. The inconsistencies noted between studies mean current evidence cannot yet confirm specific microbiome features as diagnostic biomarkers or treatment targets.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Newberry, Fiona, Hsieh, Shen-Yuan, Wileman, Tom, & Carding, Simon R (2018). Does the microbiome and virome contribute to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome?. Clinical science (London, England : 1979). https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20171330
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-newberry-2018-does-microbiome,
author = {Newberry, Fiona and Hsieh, Shen-Yuan and Wileman, Tom and Carding, Simon R},
title = {Does the microbiome and virome contribute to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome?},
journal = {Clinical science (London, England : 1979)},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1042/CS20171330},
note = {PubMed: 29523751},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/newberry-2018-does-microbiome},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/newberry-2018-does-microbiome
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