COVID-19 Linked to Altered Gut Microbiome
Results from a recent study suggest that the severity of COVID-19, as well as the persistence of symptoms, is affected by the gut microbiome.
“Although COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory illness, there is mounting evidence suggesting that the GI tract is involved in this disease,” the researchers wrote.
In order to evaluate the association between the gut microbiome and disease severity in these patients, the researchers conducted a cohort study using blood, stool, and patient records from 100 laboratory-confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2 hospitals. Serial stool samples were available in 27 of the patients through 30 days after clearance of the infection. Shotgun sequencing of total DNA extracted from stool was used to evaluate patients’ gut microbiome compositions.
Overall, the researchers found that gut microbiome composition was significantly altered in patients with COVID-19 when compared with uninfected individuals, whether or not the infected individuals had undergone treatment.
Further, disease severity was shown to be consistent with elevations in inflammatory cytokines and markers including C reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase.
“Here we show that gut microbiota composition of patients with COVID-19 during hospitalization is correlated with plasma concentrations of several cytokines, chemokines and inflammation markers, suggesting that the gut microbiota could play a role in modulating host immune response and potentially influence disease severity and outcomes,” the researchers concluded.
“The potential role played by gut microorganisms in COVID-19 could allow the use of a microbiome-based risk profile to identify individuals at risk of severe disease or downstream inflammatory symptoms such as multisystem inflammation and Kawasaki-like disease in children.”
—Michael Potts
Reference:
Yeoh YK, Zuo T, Lui GC, et al. Gut microbiota composition reflects disease severity and dysfunctional immune responses in patients with COVID-19. Published online January 11, 2021. Gut. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2020-323020