1
|
Pusadkar V, Mazumder A, Azad A, Patil D, Azad RK. Deciphering Microbial Shifts in the Gut and Lung Microbiomes of COVID-19 Patients. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1058. [PMID: 38930440 PMCID: PMC11205787 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, results in respiratory and cardiopulmonary infections. There is an urgent need to understand not just the pathogenic mechanisms of this disease but also its impact on the physiology of different organs and microbiomes. Multiple studies have reported the effects of COVID-19 on the gastrointestinal microbiota, such as promoting dysbiosis (imbalances in the microbiome) following the disease's progression. Deconstructing the dynamic changes in microbiome composition that are specifically correlated with COVID-19 patients remains a challenge. Motivated by this problem, we implemented a biomarker discovery pipeline to identify candidate microbes specific to COVID-19. This involved a meta-analysis of large-scale COVID-19 metagenomic data to decipher the impact of COVID-19 on the human gut and respiratory microbiomes. Metagenomic studies of the gut and respiratory microbiomes of COVID-19 patients and of microbiomes from other respiratory diseases with symptoms similar to or overlapping with COVID-19 revealed 1169 and 131 differentially abundant microbes in the human gut and respiratory microbiomes, respectively, that uniquely associate with COVID-19. Furthermore, by utilizing machine learning models (LASSO and XGBoost), we demonstrated the power of microbial features in separating COVID-19 samples from metagenomic samples representing other respiratory diseases and controls (healthy individuals), achieving an overall accuracy of over 80%. Overall, our study provides insights into the microbiome shifts occurring in COVID-19 patients, shining a new light on the compositional changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vaidehi Pusadkar
- Department of Biological Sciences and BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA;
| | - Anirudh Mazumder
- Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
| | - Abhijay Azad
- Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
| | - Deepti Patil
- Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
| | - Rajeev K. Azad
- Department of Biological Sciences and BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wei Y, Yu W, Zhang Z, Liu S, Xue J, Wu C, Gao Z, Guo S. Comparative analysis of oropharyngeal microbiota in healthcare workers post-COVID-19. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1347345. [PMID: 38828262 PMCID: PMC11140064 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1347345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background To date, more than 770 million individuals have become coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescents worldwide. Emerging evidence highlights the influence of COVID-19 on the oral microbiome during both acute and convalescent disease phases. Front-line healthcare workers are at an elevated risk of exposure to viral infections, and the effects of COVID-19 on their oral microbiome remain relatively unexplored. Methods Oropharyngeal swab specimens, collected one month after a negative COVID-19 test from a cohort comprising 55 healthcare workers, underwent 16S rRNA sequencing. We conducted a comparative analysis between this post-COVID-19 cohort and the pre-infection dataset from the same participants. Community composition analysis, indicator species analysis, alpha diversity assessment, beta diversity exploration, and functional prediction were evaluated. Results The Shannon and Simpson indexes of the oral microbial community declined significantly in the post-COVID-19 group when compared with the pre-infection cohort. Moreover, there was clear intergroup clustering between the two groups. In the post-COVID-19 group, the phylum Firmicutes showed a significant increase. Further, there were clear differences in relative abundance of several bacterial genera in contrast with the pre-infection group, including Streptococcus, Gemella, Granulicatella, Capnocytophaga, Leptotrichia, Fusobacterium, and Prevotella. We identified Gemella enrichment in the post-COVID-19 group, potentially serving as a recovery period performance indicator. Functional prediction revealed lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis downregulation in the post-COVID-19 group, an outcome with host inflammatory response modulation and innate defence mechanism implications. Conclusion During the recovery phase of COVID-19, the oral microbiome diversity of front-line healthcare workers failed to fully return to its pre-infection state. Despite the negative COVID-19 test result one month later, notable disparities persisted in the composition and functional attributes of the oral microbiota.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wei
- Nursing of school, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Wenyi Yu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhixia Zhang
- Nursing Department, Linfen Central Hospital, Shanxi, China
| | - Siqin Liu
- Department of Prosthodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianbo Xue
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyan Wu
- Nursing of school, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Zhancheng Gao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Chest and Lung Diseases, Shanxi Medical University, Linfen, Shanxi, China
| | - Shuming Guo
- Nursing of school, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
- Nursing Department, Linfen Central Hospital, Shanxi, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Siasios P, Giosi E, Ouranos K, Christoforidi M, Dimopoulou I, Leshi E, Exindari M, Anastassopoulou C, Gioula G. Oropharyngeal Microbiome Analysis in Patients with Varying SARS-CoV-2 Infection Severity: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Pers Med 2024; 14:369. [PMID: 38672996 PMCID: PMC11051038 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14040369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients with COVID-19 infection have distinct oropharyngeal microbiota composition and diversity metrics according to disease severity. However, these findings are not consistent across the literature. We conducted a multicenter, prospective study in patients with COVID-19 requiring outpatient versus inpatient management to explore the microbial abundance of taxa at the phylum, family, genus, and species level, and we utilized alpha and beta diversity indices to further describe our findings. We collected oropharyngeal washing specimens at the time of study entry, which coincided with the COVID-19 diagnosis, to conduct all analyses. We included 43 patients in the study, of whom 16 were managed as outpatients and 27 required hospitalization. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Saccharibacteria TM7, Fusobacteria, and Spirochaetes were the most abundant phyla among patients, while 61 different families were detected, of which the Streptococcaceae and Staphylococcaceae families were the most predominant. A total of 132 microbial genera were detected, with Streptococcus being the predominant genus in outpatients, in contrast to hospitalized patients, in whom the Staphylococcus genus was predominant. LeFSe analysis identified 57 microbial species in the oropharyngeal washings of study participants that could discriminate the severity of symptoms of COVID-19 infections. Alpha diversity analysis did not reveal a difference in the abundance of bacterial species between the groups, but beta diversity analysis established distinct microbial communities between inpatients and outpatients. Our study provides information on the complex association between the oropharyngeal microbiota and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although our study cannot establish causation, knowledge of specific taxonomic changes with increasing SARS-CoV-2 infection severity can provide us with novel clues for the prognostic classification of COVID-19 patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Siasios
- Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.S.); (E.G.); (M.C.); (I.D.); (E.L.); (M.E.); (G.G.)
| | - Evangelia Giosi
- Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.S.); (E.G.); (M.C.); (I.D.); (E.L.); (M.E.); (G.G.)
| | - Konstantinos Ouranos
- Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maria Christoforidi
- Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.S.); (E.G.); (M.C.); (I.D.); (E.L.); (M.E.); (G.G.)
| | - Ifigenia Dimopoulou
- Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.S.); (E.G.); (M.C.); (I.D.); (E.L.); (M.E.); (G.G.)
| | - Enada Leshi
- Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.S.); (E.G.); (M.C.); (I.D.); (E.L.); (M.E.); (G.G.)
| | - Maria Exindari
- Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.S.); (E.G.); (M.C.); (I.D.); (E.L.); (M.E.); (G.G.)
| | - Cleo Anastassopoulou
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Georgia Gioula
- Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (P.S.); (E.G.); (M.C.); (I.D.); (E.L.); (M.E.); (G.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Buendia P, Fernandez K, Raley C, Rahnavard A, Crandall KA, Castro JG. Hospital antimicrobial stewardship: profiling the oral microbiome after exposure to COVID-19 and antibiotics. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1346762. [PMID: 38476940 PMCID: PMC10927822 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1346762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction During the COVID-19 Delta variant surge, the CLAIRE cross-sectional study sampled saliva from 120 hospitalized patients, 116 of whom had a positive COVID-19 PCR test. Patients received antibiotics upon admission due to possible secondary bacterial infections, with patients at risk of sepsis receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics (BSA). Methods The saliva samples were analyzed with shotgun DNA metagenomics and respiratory RNA virome sequencing. Medical records for the period of hospitalization were obtained for all patients. Once hospitalization outcomes were known, patients were classified based on their COVID-19 disease severity and the antibiotics they received. Results Our study reveals that BSA regimens differentially impacted the human salivary microbiome and disease progression. 12 patients died and all of them received BSA. Significant associations were found between the composition of the COVID-19 saliva microbiome and BSA use, between SARS-CoV-2 genome coverage and severity of disease. We also found significant associations between the non-bacterial microbiome and severity of disease, with Candida albicans detected most frequently in critical patients. For patients who did not receive BSA before saliva sampling, our study suggests Staphylococcus aureus as a potential risk factor for sepsis. Discussion Our results indicate that the course of the infection may be explained by both monitoring antibiotic treatment and profiling a patient's salivary microbiome, establishing a compelling link between microbiome and the specific antibiotic type and timing of treatment. This approach can aid with emergency room triage and inpatient management but also requires a better understanding of and access to narrow-spectrum agents that target pathogenic bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Castle Raley
- The George Washington University Genomics Core, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Ali Rahnavard
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Keith A. Crandall
- The George Washington University Genomics Core, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jose Guillermo Castro
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Taufer CR, Rampelotto PH. Lactobacilli in COVID-19: A Systematic Review Based on Next-Generation Sequencing Studies. Microorganisms 2024; 12:284. [PMID: 38399688 PMCID: PMC10891515 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The global pandemic was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as COVID-19, which primarily affects the respiratory and intestinal systems and impacts the microbial communities of patients. This systematic review involved a comprehensive search across the major literature databases to explore the relationship between lactobacilli and COVID-19. Our emphasis was on investigations employing NGS technologies to explore this connection. Our analysis of nine selected studies revealed that lactobacilli have a reduced abundance in the disease and an association with disease severity. The protective mechanisms of lactobacilli in COVID-19 and other viral infections are likely to be multifaceted, involving complex interactions between the microbiota, the host immune system, and the virus itself. Moreover, upon closely examining the NGS methodologies and associated statistical analyses in each research study, we have noted concerns regarding the approach used to delineate the varying abundance of lactobacilli, which involves potential biases and the exclusion of pertinent data elements. These findings provide new insight into the relationship between COVID-19 and lactobacilli, highlighting the potential for microbiota modulation in COVID-19 treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Reginato Taufer
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Pabulo Henrique Rampelotto
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core Facility, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cauwenberghs E, Oerlemans E, Wittouck S, Allonsius CN, Gehrmann T, Ahannach S, De Boeck I, Spacova I, Bron PA, Donders G, Verhoeven V, Lebeer S. Salivary microbiome of healthy women of reproductive age. mBio 2023; 14:e0030023. [PMID: 37655878 PMCID: PMC10653790 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00300-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The salivary microbiome has been proven to play a crucial role in local and systemic diseases. Moreover, the effects of biological and lifestyle factors such as oral hygiene and smoking on this microbial community have already been explored. However, what was not yet well understood was the natural variation of the saliva microbiome in healthy women and how this is associated with specific use of hormonal contraception and with the number of different sexual partners with whom microbiome exchange is expected regularly. In this paper, we characterized the salivary microbiome of 255 healthy women of reproductive age using an in-depth questionnaire and self-sampling kits. Using the large metadata set, we were able to investigate the associations of several host-related and lifestyle variables with the salivary microbiome profiles. Our study shows a high preservation between individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eline Cauwenberghs
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Eline Oerlemans
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Stijn Wittouck
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Camille Nina Allonsius
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thies Gehrmann
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sarah Ahannach
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ilke De Boeck
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Irina Spacova
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Peter A. Bron
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gilbert Donders
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
- Regional Hospital Heilig Hart, Tienen, Belgium
- Femicare, Clinical Research for Women, Tienen, Belgium
| | - Veronique Verhoeven
- Department of Family medicine and population health (FAMPOP), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sarah Lebeer
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Ecology and Applied Microbiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Boia ER, Huț AR, Roi A, Luca RE, Munteanu IR, Roi CI, Riviș M, Boia S, Duse AO, Vulcănescu DD, Horhat FG. Associated Bacterial Coinfections in COVID-19-Positive Patients. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1858. [PMID: 37893576 PMCID: PMC10607966 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59101858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify specific rhino- and oropharyngeal microbiological pathogens as well as associated comorbidities that favor SARS-CoV-2 infection and corelate them. Materials and Methods: This prospective clinical study enrolled 61 patients (28 COVID-19-positive and 33 controls) who were tested for other comorbidities and co-existence of associated oral pathogenic microbiota. Results: A total of 247 bacterial isolates were identified in the bacterial cultures in both groups. Viral hepatitis type A was more prevalent in the COVID-19-positive group (p = 0.026), as was the presence of oral candidiasis (p = 0.006). In the control group, a moderate direct relationship was observed between the Beta hemolytic streptococcus group G and dermatitis, and strong direct relationships were observed between the Beta hemolytic streptococcus group G and external otitis, Streptococcus pyogenes and dental alveolitis, and Streptococcus pyogenes and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In the test group, strong direct relationships were observed between Hemophilus influenzae and pulmonary thromboembolism; Staphylococcus aureus and autoimmune thyroiditis; post-viral immunosuppression, chronic coronary syndrome, and hypernatremia; Beta hemolytic streptococcus group C and rheumatoid polyneuropathy; Beta hemolytic streptococcus group G and hyperkalemia, hypothyroidism, secondary anemia, and splenomegaly; and active oral candidiasis and SARS-CoV-2 viral pneumonia. The following relationships were strong, but inverse: Beta hemolytic streptococcus group G and acute respiratory failure, and active oral candidiasis and SARS-CoV-2 viral bronchopneumonia. Conclusions: Briefly, COVID-19-positive patients have the predisposition to build up associated comorbidities and coinfections, which can be the expression of the immune burden that this virus generates to the host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eugen Radu Boia
- Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Alexandru Romulus Huț
- PhD Researcher, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Alexandra Roi
- Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Ruxandra Elena Luca
- Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Dental Emergencies, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Interdisciplinary Center for Dental Medical Research, Lasers and Innovative Technologies, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (R.E.L.); (I.R.M.)
| | - Ioana Roxana Munteanu
- Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Dental Emergencies, Faculty of Dental Medicine, The Interdisciplinary Center for Dental Medical Research, Lasers and Innovative Technologies, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (R.E.L.); (I.R.M.)
| | - Ciprian Ioan Roi
- Department of Anesthesiology and Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.I.R.); (M.R.)
| | - Mircea Riviș
- Department of Anesthesiology and Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Multidisciplinary Center for Research, Evaluation, Diagnosis and Therapies in Oral Medicine, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (C.I.R.); (M.R.)
| | - Simina Boia
- Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Anton Sculean Research Center for Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Adina Octavia Duse
- Department of Physical Medicine, Balneology and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Center for the Evaluation of Movement, Functionality and Disability, “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Dan Dumitru Vulcănescu
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Multidiciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance (MULTI-REZ), “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (D.D.V.); (F.G.H.)
| | - Florin George Horhat
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Multidiciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance (MULTI-REZ), “Victor Babeș” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (D.D.V.); (F.G.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Taufer CR, Rampelotto PH. The Role of Bifidobacterium in COVID-19: A Systematic Review. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1847. [PMID: 37763251 PMCID: PMC10532519 DOI: 10.3390/life13091847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, mainly causes respiratory and intestinal symptoms and changes in the microbiota of patients. We performed a systematic search in major databases using "Bifidobacterium" and "COVID-19" or "SARS-CoV-2" as key terms to assess the relationship of the genus to COVID-19. After the selection steps, 25 articles were analyzed. Of these, eighteen were observational, and seven were interventional articles that evaluated the use of Bifidobacterium alone or in mix as probiotics for additional treatment of patients with COVID-19. All stages and severities were contemplated, including post-COVID-19 patients. Overall, Bifidobacterium was associated with both protective effects and reduced abundance in relation to the disease. The genus has been found to be abundant in some cases and linked to disease severity. The studies evaluating the use of Bifidobacterium as probiotics have demonstrated the potential of this genus in reducing symptoms, improving pulmonary function, reducing inflammatory markers, alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms, and even contributing to better control of mortality. In summary, Bifidobacterium may offer protection against COVID-19 through its ability to modulate the immune response, reduce inflammation, compete with pathogenic microbes, and maintain gut barrier function. The findings provide valuable insights into the relationship between the disease and the genus Bifidobacterium, highlighting the potential of microbiota modulation in the treatment of COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Reginato Taufer
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Pabulo Henrique Rampelotto
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core Facility, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang J, Zhang Y, Xia Y, Sun J. Microbiome and intestinal pathophysiology in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. Genes Dis 2023; 11:S2352-3042(23)00223-4. [PMID: 37362775 PMCID: PMC10278891 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Long COVID, also known for post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, describes the people who have the signs and symptoms that continue or develop after the acute COVID-19 phase. Long COVID patients suffer from an inflammation or host responses towards the virus approximately 4 weeks after initial infection with the SARS CoV-2 virus and continue for an uncharacterized duration. Anyone infected with COVID-19 before could experience long-COVID conditions, including the patients who were infected with SARS CoV-2 virus confirmed by tests and those who never knew they had an infection early. People with long COVID may experience health problems from different types and combinations of symptoms over time, such as fatigue, dyspnea, cognitive impairments, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased or loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and dysgeusia). The critical role of the microbiome in these GI symptoms and long COVID were reported in clinical patients and experimental models. Here, we provide an overall view of the critical role of the GI tract and microbiome in the development of long COVID, including the clinical GI symptoms in patients, dysbiosis, viral-microbiome interactions, barrier function, and inflammatory bowel disease patients with long COVID. We highlight the potential mechanisms and possible treatment based on GI health and microbiome. Finally, we discuss challenges and future direction in the long COVID clinic and research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jilei Zhang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Yongguo Zhang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Yinglin Xia
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Jun Sun
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- UIC Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| |
Collapse
|