BACKGROUND During a period of rapid growth in our understanding of the microbiology of the built environment in recent years, the majority of research has focused on bacteria and fungi. Viruses, while probably as numerous, have received less attention. In response, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation supported a workshop entitled "Viruses in the Built Environment (VIBE)," at which experts in environmental engineering, environmental microbiology, epidemiology, infection prevention, fluid dynamics, occupational health, metagenomics, and virology convened to synthesize recent advances and identify key research questions and knowledge gaps regarding viruses in the built environment. RESULTS Four primary research areas and funding priorities were identified. First, a better understanding of viral communities in the built environment is needed, specifically which viruses are present and their sources, spatial and temporal dynamics, and interactions with bacteria. Second, more information is needed about viruses and health, including viral transmission in the built environment, the relationship between virus detection and exposure, and the definition of a healthy virome. The third research priority is to identify and evaluate interventions for controlling viruses and the virome in the built environment. This encompasses interactions among viruses, buildings, and occupants. Finally, to overcome the challenge of working with viruses, workshop participants emphasized that improved sampling methods, laboratory techniques, and bioinformatics approaches are needed to advance understanding of viruses in the built environment. CONCLUSIONS We hope that identifying these key questions and knowledge gaps will engage other investigators and funding agencies to spur future research on the highly interdisciplinary topic of viruses in the built environment. There are numerous opportunities to advance knowledge, as many topics remain underexplored compared to our understanding of bacteria and fungi. Video abstract.

中文翻译：

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建筑环境中的病毒（VIBE）会议报告。

背景技术在近年来我们对建筑环境的微生物学的理解迅速发展的时期中，大多数研究集中在细菌和真菌上。病毒虽然可能很多，但受到的关注较少。作为回应，阿尔弗雷德·P·斯隆基金会（Alfred P. Sloan Foundation）支持了一个名为“建筑环境中的病毒（VIBE）”的研讨会，该会议召集了环境工程，环境微生物学，流行病学，感染预防，流体动力学，职业健康，宏基因组学和病毒学方面的专家综合最新进展，并确定有关构建环境中病毒的关键研究问题和知识差距。结果确定了四个主要研究领域和资金重点。首先，需要更好地了解建筑环境中的病毒群落，特别是存在哪些病毒及其来源，时空动态以及与细菌的相互作用。第二，需要更多有关病毒和健康的信息，包括在建筑环境中的病毒传播，病毒检测与暴露之间的关系以及健康病毒的定义。研究的第三个重点是确定和评估在建筑环境中控制病毒和病毒的干预措施。这包括病毒，建筑物和居住者之间的相互作用。最后，为了克服与病毒打交道的挑战，研讨会的参加者强调，需要改进的采样方法，实验室技术和生物信息学方法，以加深对建筑环境中病毒的了解。结论我们希望识别出这些关键问题和知识差距将促使其他研究者和资助机构促使人们对构建环境中病毒的高度跨学科主题进行进一步的研究。与我们对细菌和真菌的理解相比，许多话题仍未得到充分开发，因此有许多增进知识的机会。录像摘要。