Enterococci are part of the intestinal microbiota of healthy humans and animals and are widely used as lactic acid cultures and components of probiotic preparations. On the other hand, enterococci can cause severe infections, including healthcare-associated ones.
Enterococcal viruses, or enterococcus phages, are also an important component of the human microbiota. Bacteriophages regulate the number of bacteria and are involved in the processes of horizontal gene transfer between bacteria. Their number is associated with diseases of the intestines, liver and the development of cancer.
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