1
|
Kopera K, Gromowski T, Wydmański W, Skonieczna-Żydecka K, Muszyńska A, Zielińska K, Wierzbicka-Woś A, Kaczmarczyk M, Kadaj-Lipka R, Cembrowska-Lech D, Januszkiewicz K, Kotfis K, Witkiewicz W, Nalewajska M, Feret W, Marlicz W, Łoniewski I, Łabaj PP, Rydzewska G, Kosciolek T. Gut microbiome dynamics and predictive value in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a comparative analysis of shallow and deep shotgun sequencing. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1342749. [PMID: 38962119 PMCID: PMC11219902 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1342749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has led to a wide range of clinical presentations, with respiratory symptoms being common. However, emerging evidence suggests that the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is also affected, with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, a key receptor for SARS-CoV-2, abundantly expressed in the ileum and colon. The virus has been detected in GI tissues and fecal samples, even in cases with negative results of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in the respiratory tract. GI symptoms have been associated with an increased risk of ICU admission and mortality. The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of around 40 trillion bacteria, plays a crucial role in immunological and metabolic pathways. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, characterized by a loss of beneficial microbes and decreased microbial diversity, has been observed in COVID-19 patients, potentially contributing to disease severity. We conducted a comprehensive gut microbiome study in 204 hospitalized COVID-19 patients using both shallow and deep shotgun sequencing methods. We aimed to track microbiota composition changes induced by hospitalization, link these alterations to clinical procedures (antibiotics administration) and outcomes (ICU referral, survival), and assess the predictive potential of the gut microbiome for COVID-19 prognosis. Shallow shotgun sequencing was evaluated as a cost-effective diagnostic alternative for clinical settings. Our study demonstrated the diverse effects of various combinations of clinical parameters, microbiome profiles, and patient metadata on the precision of outcome prognostication in patients. It indicates that microbiological data possesses greater reliability in forecasting patient outcomes when contrasted with clinical data or metadata. Furthermore, we established that shallow shotgun sequencing presents a viable and cost-effective diagnostic alternative to deep sequencing within clinical environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kopera
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Tomasz Gromowski
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Department of General Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Witold Wydmański
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Agata Muszyńska
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Kinga Zielińska
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Mariusz Kaczmarczyk
- Sanprobi Sp. z o.o. Sp. k., Szczecin, Poland
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Biochemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Roland Kadaj-Lipka
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Danuta Cembrowska-Lech
- Department of Biochemical Science, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
- Sanprobi Sp. z o.o. Sp. k., Szczecin, Poland
| | | | - Katarzyna Kotfis
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Management, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | | | | | - Wiktoria Feret
- Clinical Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Wojciech Marlicz
- Sanprobi Sp. z o.o. Sp. k., Szczecin, Poland
- Department of Gastroenterology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Igor Łoniewski
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Department of Biochemical Science, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
- Sanprobi Sp. z o.o. Sp. k., Szczecin, Poland
| | - Paweł P. Łabaj
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Grażyna Rydzewska
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Kosciolek
- Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Raj ST, Bruce AW, Anbalagan M, Srinivasan H, Chinnappan S, Rajagopal M, Khanna K, Chandramoorthy HC, Mani RR. COVID-19 influenced gut dysbiosis, post-acute sequelae, immune regulation, and therapeutic regimens. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1384939. [PMID: 38863829 PMCID: PMC11165100 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1384939] [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: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has garnered unprecedented global attention. It caused over 2.47 million deaths through various syndromes such as acute respiratory distress, hypercoagulability, and multiple organ failure. The viral invasion proceeds through the ACE2 receptor, expressed in multiple cell types, and in some patients caused serious damage to tissues, organs, immune cells, and the microbes that colonize the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Some patients who survived the SARS-CoV-2 infection have developed months of persistent long-COVID-19 symptoms or post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Diagnosis of these patients has revealed multiple biological effects, none of which are mutually exclusive. However, the severity of COVID-19 also depends on numerous comorbidities such as obesity, age, diabetes, and hypertension and care must be taken with respect to other multiple morbidities, such as host immunity. Gut microbiota in relation to SARS-CoV-2 immunopathology is considered to evolve COVID-19 progression via mechanisms of biochemical metabolism, exacerbation of inflammation, intestinal mucosal secretion, cytokine storm, and immunity regulation. Therefore, modulation of gut microbiome equilibrium through food supplements and probiotics remains a hot topic of current research and debate. In this review, we discuss the biological complications of the physio-pathological effects of COVID-19 infection, GIT immune response, and therapeutic pharmacological strategies. We also summarize the therapeutic targets of probiotics, their limitations, and the efficacy of preclinical and clinical drugs to effectively inhibit the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sterlin T. Raj
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ekka Diagnostics, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Alexander W. Bruce
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Muralidharan Anbalagan
- Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Hemalatha Srinivasan
- School of Life Sciences, B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
| | - Sasikala Chinnappan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University College of Sedaya International UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mogana Rajagopal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University College of Sedaya International UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kushagra Khanna
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Harish C. Chandramoorthy
- Department of Microbiology and Clinical Parasitology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
- Center for Stem Cell Research, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ravishankar Ram Mani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University College of Sedaya International UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hazan S, Smith M, Lander S, Carlson A, Walters C. Bifidobacterium Against COVID-19: A Mother and Her Newborn's Gut Microbiome. Cureus 2024; 16:e60038. [PMID: 38854284 PMCID: PMC11162645 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Several treatments and preventive measures for SARS-CoV-2 were studied during the pandemic, but few focused on the neonatal gut microbiome and its role in the setting of COVID-19. This case report is unique because it describes the gut microbiomes of a mother and her newborn, who both contracted COVID-19 shortly after the baby's birth. In this prospective study, on day 11 postpartum, both the newborn and mother (38 years old), of white race/ethnicity, were exposed to a COVID-19-positive person. After exposure, the mother received a 40,000 IU bolus of vitamin D orally and started a five-day course of high-dose vitamin C (10,000 mg daily), after which she continued her daily combination of vitamins C, D, and zinc pill with probiotic skyr yogurt and manuka honey. Stool specimens and DNA were extracted, quantitated, and normalized from the mother and the newborn for downstream library fabrication utilizing shotgun methodology. Baseline Bifidobacteria level for the mother was 1.5% which increased to 19% on day 15 postpartum after testing positive for COVID-19 and taking vitamin C. Neonatal Bifidobacteriasteadily increased regardless of COVID-19 infection. We propose that the disease course was altered by maternal supplementation of vitamins C and D and zinc, which may have increased Bifidobacterium levels and led to improved outcomes for both patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan Smith
- Biomedical Sciences, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
| | - Skye Lander
- Biomedical Sciences, California University of Science and Medicine, Colton, USA
| | - Abby Carlson
- Research and Development, ProgenaBiome, Ventura, USA
| | - Camila Walters
- Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hazan S, Haroon J, Jordan S, Walker SJ. Improvements in Gut Microbiome Composition and Clinical Symptoms Following Familial Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in a Nineteen-Year-Old Adolescent With Severe Autism. J Med Cases 2024; 15:82-91. [PMID: 38715916 PMCID: PMC11073461 DOI: 10.14740/jmc4209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
This case report describes a novel therapy for patients with severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is worth further investigation. A 19-year-old male adolescent with ASD, who was not responding to standard treatment received fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) using donor material from his typically developing female sibling. The patient's ASD symptoms were assessed by assessors who were blind to the patient's past ASD symptomatology. Assessors used the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), an observation-based rating scale to assess developmental delay in children with autism (range of CARS scores is 15 - 60; a score > 28 is indicative of autism; higher score is positively correlated with degree of severity), at baseline and again at six timepoints post-FMT. The patient experienced marked improvements in microbiome diversity and composition over the year and a half period that followed the FMT procedure. Additionally, the patient who was previously nonverbal said his first two words and experienced a reduction in aggression 1-month post-FMT. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the use of familial FMT in an adolescent patient with ASD. Given that ASD symptom improvements post-FMT tend to occur in younger patients, the authors hypothesize that the use of a familial donor may be an important factor that contributed to the improved outcomes experienced by this older child.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Hazan
- ProgenaBiome, LLC, Ventura, CA, USA
- Microbiome Research Foundation, Ventura, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen J. Walker
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Itoh K, Matsueda S. Exploring the Potential of Humoral Immune Response to Commensal Bifidobacterium as a Biomarker for Human Health, including Both Malignant and Non-Malignant Diseases: A Perspective on Detection Strategies and Future Directions. Biomedicines 2024; 12:803. [PMID: 38672158 PMCID: PMC11048515 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040803] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this comprehensive review, we explore the pivotal role of commensal Bifidobacterium (c-BIF) as potent non-self-antigens through antigenic mimicry, along with exploring the potential of humoral immune responses for both malignant and non-malignant disease. c-BIF, a predominant component of the human gut microbiome encompassing around 90% of the human genome, has emerged as a pivotal player in human biology. Over recent decades, there has been extensive research elucidating the intricate connections between c-BIF and various facets of human health, with particular emphasis on their groundbreaking impact on anti-cancer effects and the management of non-malignant diseases. The multifaceted role of c-BIF is explored, ranging from enhancing anti-tumor immunity to improving the efficacy of anti-cancer and anti-infectious disease strategies, and serving as predictive biomarkers for various diseases. Recent studies highlight not only c-BIF's promotion of anti-tumor immunity but also their role in enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. The review emphasizes the promising avenue of manipulating the gut microbiota, particularly c-BIF, for modulating cancer immunotherapy with targeted effects on tumor cells while minimizing harm to normal tissue. In the context of infectious and inflammatory diseases, the crucial role of c-BIFs in the management of COVID-19 symptoms is examined, emphasizing their impact on the severity of and immune response to COVID-19. Furthermore, c-BIF exhibits preventive and therapeutic effects on Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) and shows promise in improving inflammatory bowel diseases. The potential application of c-BIF as a biomarker for immunotherapy is explored, with a specific emphasis on its predictive and prognostic value in cancer. Suggestions are made regarding the use of humoral immune responses to cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope peptides that share motifs with c-BIF, proposing them as potential markers for predicting overall survival in diverse cancer patients. In conclusion, c-BIF emerges as a crucial and multifaceted determinant of human health, across anti-tumor immunity to infectious and inflammatory disease management. The manipulation of c-BIF and gut microbiota presents a promising avenue for advancing therapeutic strategies, particularly in the realm of cancer immunotherapy. Additionally, this review highlights the significance of c-BIF as potent non-self-antigens via antigenic mimicry, emphasizing the importance of robust humoral immune responses against c-BIF for preventing various diseases, including inflammatory conditions. Elevated levels of circulating antibodies against c-BIF in healthy individuals may serve as potential indicators of lower risks for malignant and non-malignant diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Satoko Matsueda
- Cancer Vaccine Center, Kurume University, Kurume 839-0863, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yokoyama Y, Ichiki T, Yamakawa T, Tsuji Y, Kuronuma K, Takahashi S, Narimatsu E, Katanuma A, Nakase H. Gut microbiota and metabolites in patients with COVID-19 are altered by the type of SARS-CoV-2 variant. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1358530. [PMID: 38505560 PMCID: PMC10948395 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1358530] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Patients with COVID-19 have dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota with altered metabolites in the stool. However, it remains unclear whether the differences among SARS-CoV-2 variants lead to differences in intestinal microbiota and metabolites. Thus, we compared the microbiome and metabolome changes for each SARS-CoV-2 variant in patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods We conducted a multicenter observational study of patients with COVID-19 and performed fecal microbiome, metabolome, and calprotectin analyses and compared the results among the different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Results Twenty-one patients with COVID-19 were enrolled and stratified according to the SARS-CoV-2 strain: six with the Alpha, 10 with the Delta, and five with the Omicron variant. Fecal microbiome analysis showed that α-diversity was reduced in the order of the Omicron, Delta, and Alpha variants (p = 0.07). Linear discriminant analysis revealed differences in the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing gut microbiota for each SARS-CoV-2 variant. Fecal metabolome analysis showed that the Omicron and Delta variants had markedly reduced propionic and lactic acid levels compared to the Alpha strain (p < 0.05). Conclusion The intestinal microbiota of patients with COVID-19 varies depending on the SARS-CoV-2 variant. Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota due to differences in SARS-CoV-2 variants causes a decrease in intestinal short-chain fatty acids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Yokoyama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Ichiki
- Department of General Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Yamakawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Tsuji
- Department of General Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Koji Kuronuma
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Takahashi
- Department of Infection Control and Laboratory Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Eichi Narimatsu
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Akio Katanuma
- Center for Gastroenterology, Teine-Keijinkai Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nakase
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
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
|
8
|
Rubas NC, Peres R, Kunihiro BP, Allan NP, Phankitnirundorn K, Wells RK, McCracken T, Lee RH, Umeda L, Conching A, Juarez R, Maunakea AK. HMGB1 mediates microbiome-immune axis dysregulation underlying reduced neutralization capacity in obesity-related post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2. Sci Rep 2024; 14:355. [PMID: 38172612 PMCID: PMC10764757 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50027-1] [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: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
While obesity is a risk factor for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC, "long-COVID"), the mechanism(s) underlying this phenomenon remains poorly understood. To address this gap in knowledge, we performed a 6-week longitudinal study to examine immune activity and gut microbiome dysbiosis in post-acute stage patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Self-reported symptom frequencies and blood samples were collected weekly, with plasma assessed by ELISA and Luminex for multiple biomarkers and immune cell profiling. DNA from stool samples were collected at the early stage of recovery for baseline assessments of gut microbial composition and diversity using 16S-based metagenomic sequencing. Multiple regression analyses revealed obesity-related PASC linked to a sustained proinflammatory immune profile and reduced adaptive immunity, corresponding with reduced gut microbial diversity. In particular, enhanced signaling of the high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein was found to associate with this dysregulation, with its upregulated levels in plasma associated with significantly impaired viral neutralization that was exacerbated with obesity. These findings implicate HMGB1 as a candidate biomarker of PASC, with potential applications for risk assessment and targeted therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noelle C Rubas
- Department of Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
- Deparment of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Rafael Peres
- Department of Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Braden P Kunihiro
- Department of Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Nina P Allan
- Department of Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Krit Phankitnirundorn
- Department of Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Riley K Wells
- Department of Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
- Deparment of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Trevor McCracken
- Department of Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Rosa H Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Lesley Umeda
- Department of Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
- Deparment of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | | | - Ruben Juarez
- Hawai'i Integrated Analytics, Honolulu, HI, USA
- Deparment of Economics and UHERO, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Alika K Maunakea
- Department of Biochemistry, Anatomy, and Physiology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
- Hawai'i Integrated Analytics, Honolulu, HI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Brīvība M, Silamiķele L, Birzniece L, Ansone L, Megnis K, Silamiķelis I, Pelcmane L, Borisova D, Rozenberga M, Jagare L, Elbere I, Kloviņš J. Gut Microbiome Composition and Dynamics in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients and Patients with Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:567. [PMID: 38203738 PMCID: PMC10779053 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010567] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in the modulation of host responses during viral infections, and recent studies have underscored its significance in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to investigate the dynamics and compositional changes in the gut microbiome of COVID-19 patients, addressing both the acute phase and the recovery process, with a particular focus on the emergence of post-COVID-19 conditions. Involving 146 COVID-19 patients and 110 healthy controls, this study employed a shotgun metagenomics approach for cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses with one- and three-month follow-ups. We observed a decline in taxonomic diversity among hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls, while a subsequent increase in alpha diversity was shown during the recovery process. A notable contribution of Enterococcus faecium was identified in the acute phase of the infection, accompanied by an increasing abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria (e.g., Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae_unclassified) during the recovery period. We highlighted a protective role of the Prevotella genus in the long-term recovery process and suggested a potential significance of population-specificity in the early gut microbiome markers of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Our study represents distinctive gut microbiome signatures in COVID-19, with potential diagnostic and prognostic implications, pinpointing potential modulators of the disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monta Brīvība
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia; (L.S.); (L.B.); (L.A.); (K.M.); (I.S.); (L.P.); (D.B.); (I.E.); (J.K.)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Fan R, Liu S, Sun N, Yang Y, Deng X, Hu B, Sun C, Wen C, Li H, Cheng D, Huang C, Hou P, Zhang T. Gut microbiota composition is associated with disease severity and host immune responses in COVID-19. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1274690. [PMID: 38149007 PMCID: PMC10749918 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1274690] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human gut microbiota play a crucial role in the immune response of the host to respiratory viral infection. However, evidence regarding the association between the gut microbiome, host immune responses, and disease severity in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains insufficient. Methods To better comprehend the interactions between the host and gut microbiota in COVID-19, we conducted 16S rRNA sequencing and characterized the gut microbiome compositions in stool samples from 40 COVID-19 patients and 33 non-pneumonia controls. We assessed several hematological parameters to determine the immune status. Results We found that the gut microbial composition was significantly changed in COVID-19 patients, which was characterized by increased opportunistic pathogens and decreased commensal bacteria. The frequency of prevalent opportunistic pathogens Enterococcus and Lactobacillus increased, especially in severe patients; yet the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Anaerostipes, decreased significantly, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii might help discriminate severe patients from moderate patients and non-pneumonia people. Furthermore, we then obtained a correlation map between the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 and severity-related gut microbiota. We observed a notable correlation between the abundance of Enterococcus faecium and abnormal neutrophil or lymphocyte percentage in all COVID-19 patients. Faecalibacterium was positively correlated with lymphocyte counts, while negatively correlated with neutrophil percentage. Conclusion These results suggested that the gut microbiome could have a potential function in regulating host immune responses and impacting the severity or consequences of diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruyue Fan
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Infectious Respiratory Disease, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Na Sun
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xia Deng
- School of Public Healthy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Bin Hu
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Changhua Sun
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chengli Wen
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Hui Li
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Dong Cheng
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chuanjun Huang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Infectious Respiratory Disease, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Peibin Hou
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Tianliang Zhang
- Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sharma D, Gajjar D, Seshadri S. Understanding the role of gut microfloral bifidobacterium in cancer and its potential therapeutic applications. MICROBIOME RESEARCH REPORTS 2023; 3:3. [PMID: 38455077 PMCID: PMC10917622 DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2023.51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Gut microbiota research has gained a tremendous amount of attention from the scientific community because of its contribution to gut homeostasis, human health, and various pathophysiological conditions. The early colonizer of the human gut, i.e., bifidobacteria, has emerged as an efficient probiotic in various diseased conditions, including cancer. This review explores the pros and cons of Bifidobacterium in various malignancies and various therapeutic strategies. We have illustrated the controversial role of bifidobacteria participating in various malignancies as well as described the current knowledge regarding its use in anticancer therapies. Ultimately, this article also addresses the need for further extensive research in elucidating the mechanism of how bifidobacteria is involved and is indirectly affecting the tumor microenvironment. Exhaustive and large-scale research is also required to solve the controversial questions regarding the involvement of bifidobacteria in cancer research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sriram Seshadri
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, 382481 Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Moreno-Corona NC, López-Ortega O, Pérez-Martínez CA, Martínez-Castillo M, De Jesús-González LA, León-Reyes G, León-Juárez M. Dynamics of the Microbiota and Its Relationship with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14822. [PMID: 37834270 PMCID: PMC10573029 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which can be asymptomatic or present with multiple organ dysfunction. Many infected individuals have chronic alterations associated with neuropsychiatric, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal symptoms, even several months after disease onset, developing long-COVID or post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). Microbiota dysbiosis contributes to the onset and progression of many viral diseases, including COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 manifestations, which could serve as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This review aimed to discuss the most recent findings on gut microbiota dysbiosis and its relationship with the sequelae of PACS. Elucidating these mechanisms could help develop personalized and non-invasive clinical strategies to identify individuals at a higher risk of experiencing severe disease progression or complications associated with PACS. Moreover, the review highlights the importance of targeting the gut microbiota composition to avoid dysbiosis and to develop possible prophylactic and therapeutic measures against COVID-19 and PACS in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nidia Carolina Moreno-Corona
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Université de Paris, 75015 Paris, France;
| | - Orestes López-Ortega
- Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR-S1151, CNRS UMR-S8253, Institute Necker Enfants Malades, 75015 Paris, France;
| | | | - Macario Martínez-Castillo
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
| | | | - Guadalupe León-Reyes
- Laboratorio de Nutrigenética y Nutrigenómica, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica (INMEGEN), México City 16610, Mexico;
| | - Moisés León-Juárez
- Laboratorio de Virología Perinatal y Diseño Molecular de Antígenos y Biomarcadores, Departamento de Inmunobioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, Mexico City 11000, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Vogel K, Arra A, Lingel H, Bretschneider D, Prätsch F, Schanze D, Zenker M, Balk S, Bruder D, Geffers R, Hachenberg T, Arens C, Brunner-Weinzierl MC. Bifidobacteria shape antimicrobial T-helper cell responses during infancy and adulthood. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5943. [PMID: 37741816 PMCID: PMC10517955 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41630-x] [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: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial infections early in life are challenging for the unexperienced immune system. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic again has highlighted that neonatal, infant, child, and adult T-helper(Th)-cells respond differently to infections, and requires further understanding. This study investigates anti-bacterial T-cell responses against Staphylococcus aureus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bifidobacterium longum infantis in early stages of life and adults and shows age and pathogen-dependent mechanisms. Beside activation-induced clustering, T-cells stimulated with Staphylococci become Th1-type cells; however, this differentiation is mitigated in Bifidobacterium-stimulated T-cells. Strikingly, prestimulation of T-cells with Bifidobacterium suppresses the activation of Staphylococcus-specific T-helper cells in a cell-cell dependent manner by inducing FoxP3+CD4+ T-cells, increasing IL-10 and galectin-1 secretion and showing a CTLA-4-dependent inhibitory capacity. Furthermore Bifidobacterium dampens Th responses of severely ill COVID-19 patients likely contributing to resolution of harmful overreactions of the immune system. Targeted, age-specific interventions may enhance infection defence, and specific immune features may have potential cross-age utilization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Vogel
- Department of Experimental Paediatrics, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Aditya Arra
- Department of Experimental Paediatrics, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Holger Lingel
- Department of Experimental Paediatrics, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | | | - Florian Prätsch
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Denny Schanze
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Martin Zenker
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Silke Balk
- Department of Experimental Paediatrics, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dunja Bruder
- Infection Immunology Group, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Immune Regulation Group, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Robert Geffers
- Genome Analytics, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Thomas Hachenberg
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Arens
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, University Hospital of Gießen and Marburg (UKGM), Gießen Campus, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head/Neck Surgery and Plastic Surgery, Gießen, Germany
| | - Monika C Brunner-Weinzierl
- Department of Experimental Paediatrics, University Hospital, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
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
|
15
|
Cui S, Guo S, Zhao Q, Li Y, Ma Y, Yu Y. Alterations of microbiota and metabolites in the feces of calves with diarrhea associated with rotavirus and coronavirus infections. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1159637. [PMID: 37601373 PMCID: PMC10434556 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1159637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The changes in the composition of intestinal microbiota and metabolites have been linked to digestive disorders in calves, especially neonatal calf diarrhea. Bovine rotavirus (BRV) and bovine coronavirus (BCoV) are known to be the primary culprits behind neonatal calf diarrhea. In this study, we analyzed changes in the fecal microbiota and metabolites of calves with neonatal diarrhea associated with BRV and BCoV infection using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics technology. The microbial diversity in the feces of calves infected with BRV and BCoV with diarrhea decreased significantly, and the composition changed significantly. The significant increase of Fusobacterium and the reductions of some bacteria genera, including Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Ruminococcus, Subdoligranulum, Parabacteroides, Collinsella, and Olsenella, etc., were closely related to diarrhea associated with BRV and BCoV infection. Metabolites in the feces of BRV and BCoV-infected calves with diarrhea were significantly changed. Phosphatidylcholine [PC; 16:1(9 Z)/16:1(9 Z)], lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE; 0:0/22:0), lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC; P-16:0) and LysoPE (0:0/18:0) were significantly higher in the feces of BRV-infected calves with diarrhea. In contrast, some others, such as desthiobiotin, were significantly lower. BRV infection affects glycerophospholipid metabolism and biotin metabolism in calves. Two differential metabolites were significantly increased, and 67 differential metabolites were significantly reduced in the feces of BCoV-infected calves with diarrhea. Seven significantly reduced metabolites, including deoxythymidylic acid (DTMP), dihydrobiopterin, dihydroneopterin triphosphate, cortexolone, cortisol, pantetheine, and pregnenolone sulfate, were enriched in the folate biosynthesis, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, pyrimidine metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway. The decrease in these metabolites was closely associated with increased harmful bacteria and reduced commensal bacteria. The content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetic acid and propionic acid in the feces of BRV and BCoV-infected calves with diarrhea was lower than that of healthy calves, which was associated with the depletion of SCFAs-producing bacteria such as Parabacteroides, Fournierella, and Collinsella. The present study showed that BRV and BCoV infections changed the composition of the calf fecal microbiota and were associated with changes in fecal metabolites. This study lays the foundation for further revealing the roles of intestinal microbiota in neonatal calf diarrhea associated with BRV and BCoV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shengwei Cui
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Shihui Guo
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Qingmei Zhao
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yong Li
- School of Life Sciences, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yun Ma
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular Cell Breeding in Ningxia, School of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yongtao Yu
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular Cell Breeding in Ningxia, School of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Armstrong AJS, Horton DB, Andrews T, Greenberg P, Roy J, Gennaro ML, Carson JL, Panettieri RA, Barrett ES, Blaser MJ. Saliva microbiome in relation to SARS-CoV-2 infection in a prospective cohort of healthy US adults. EBioMedicine 2023; 94:104731. [PMID: 37487417 PMCID: PMC10382861 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104731] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection vary in severity, potentially influenced by the resident human microbiota. There is limited consensus on conserved microbiome changes in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, with many studies focusing on severely ill individuals. This study aimed to assess the variation in the upper respiratory tract microbiome using saliva specimens in a cohort of individuals with primarily mild to moderate disease. METHODS In early 2020, a cohort of 831 adults without known SARS-CoV-2 infection was followed over a six-month period to assess the occurrence and natural history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. From this cohort, 81 participants with a SARS-CoV-2 infection, along with 57 unexposed counterparts were selected with a total of 748 serial saliva samples were collected for analysis. Total bacterial abundance, composition, population structure, and gene function of the salivary microbiome were measured using 16S rRNA gene and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. FINDINGS The salivary microbiome remained stable in unexposed individuals over the six-month study period, as evidenced by all measured metrics. Similarly, participants with mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection showed microbiome stability throughout and after their infection. However, there were significant reductions in microbiome diversity among SARS-CoV-2-positive participants with severe symptoms early after infection. Over time, the microbiome diversity in these participants showed signs of recovery. INTERPRETATION These findings demonstrate the resilience of the salivary microbiome in relation to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mild to moderate infections did not significantly disrupt the stability of the salivary microbiome, suggesting its ability to maintain its composition and function. However, severe SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with temporary reductions in microbiome diversity, indicating the limits of microbiome resilience in the face of severe infection. FUNDING This project was supported in part by Danone North America and grants from the National Institutes of Health, United States.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail J S Armstrong
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Daniel B Horton
- Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Tracy Andrews
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Patricia Greenberg
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jason Roy
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Maria Laura Gennaro
- Department of Medicine, Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Carson
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Reynold A Panettieri
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Emily S Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Martin J Blaser
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Martín R, Rios-Covian D, Huillet E, Auger S, Khazaal S, Bermúdez-Humarán LG, Sokol H, Chatel JM, Langella P. Faecalibacterium: a bacterial genus with promising human health applications. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2023; 47:fuad039. [PMID: 37451743 PMCID: PMC10410495 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, many diseases are associated with alterations in gut microbiota, namely increases or decreases in the abundance of specific bacterial groups. One example is the genus Faecalibacterium. Numerous studies have underscored that low levels of Faecalibacterium are correlated with inflammatory conditions, with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the forefront. Its representation is also diminished in the case of several diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC), dermatitis, and depression. Additionally, the relative presence of this genus is considered to reflect, at least in part, intestinal health status because Faecalibacterium is frequently present at reduced levels in individuals with gastrointestinal diseases or disorders. In this review, we first thoroughly describe updates to the taxonomy of Faecalibacterium, which has transformed a single-species taxon to a multispecies taxon over the last decade. We then explore the links discovered between Faecalibacterium abundance and various diseases since the first IBD-focused studies were published. Next, we examine current available strategies for modulating Faecalibacterium levels in the gut. Finally, we summarize the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects that have been attributed to this genus. Together, epidemiological and experimental data strongly support the use of Faecalibacterium as a next-generation probiotic (NGP) or live biotherapeutic product (LBP).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Martín
- Paris-Saclay University, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - David Rios-Covian
- Paris-Saclay University, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Eugénie Huillet
- Paris-Saclay University, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sandrine Auger
- Paris-Saclay University, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sarah Khazaal
- Paris-Saclay University, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Luis G Bermúdez-Humarán
- Paris-Saclay University, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Harry Sokol
- Paris-Saclay University, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, AP-HP, Saint Antoine Hospital, Gastroenterology Department, F-75012 Paris, France
- Paris Centre for Microbiome Medicine (PaCeMM) FHU, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Marc Chatel
- Paris-Saclay University, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Philippe Langella
- Paris-Saclay University, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Chen P, Wu M, He Y, Jiang B, He ML. Metabolic alterations upon SARS-CoV-2 infection and potential therapeutic targets against coronavirus infection. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:237. [PMID: 37286535 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01510-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection has become a global pandemic due to the high viral transmissibility and pathogenesis, bringing enormous burden to our society. Most patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Although only a small proportion of patients progressed to severe COVID-19 with symptoms including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), disseminated coagulopathy, and cardiovascular disorders, severe COVID-19 is accompanied by high mortality rates with near 7 million deaths. Nowadays, effective therapeutic patterns for severe COVID-19 are still lacking. It has been extensively reported that host metabolism plays essential roles in various physiological processes during virus infection. Many viruses manipulate host metabolism to avoid immunity, facilitate their own replication, or to initiate pathological response. Targeting the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and host metabolism holds promise for developing therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent studies dedicated to uncovering the role of host metabolism during the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 in aspects of entry, replication, assembly, and pathogenesis with an emphasis on glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism. Microbiota and long COVID-19 are also discussed. Ultimately, we recapitulate metabolism-modulating drugs repurposed for COVID-19 including statins, ASM inhibitors, NSAIDs, Montelukast, omega-3 fatty acids, 2-DG, and metformin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peiran Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mandi Wu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yaqing He
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Binghua Jiang
- Cell Signaling and Proteomic Center, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ming-Liang He
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, HKSAR, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Banerjee A, Somasundaram I, Das D, Jain Manoj S, Banu H, Mitta Suresh P, Paul S, Bisgin A, Zhang H, Sun XF, Duttaroy AK, Pathak S. Functional Foods: A Promising Strategy for Restoring Gut Microbiota Diversity Impacted by SARS-CoV-2 Variants. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15112631. [PMID: 37299594 DOI: 10.3390/nu15112631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural herbs and functional foods contain bioactive molecules capable of augmenting the immune system and mediating anti-viral functions. Functional foods, such as prebiotics, probiotics, and dietary fibers, have been shown to have positive effects on gut microbiota diversity and immune function. The use of functional foods has been linked to enhanced immunity, regeneration, improved cognitive function, maintenance of gut microbiota, and significant improvement in overall health. The gut microbiota plays a critical role in maintaining overall health and immune function, and disruptions to its balance have been linked to various health problems. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been shown to affect gut microbiota diversity, and the emergence of variants poses new challenges to combat the virus. SARS-CoV-2 recognizes and infects human cells through ACE2 receptors prevalent in lung and gut epithelial cells. Humans are prone to SARS-CoV-2 infection because their respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts are rich in microbial diversity and contain high levels of ACE2 and TMPRSS2. This review article explores the potential use of functional foods in mitigating the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on gut microbiota diversity, and the potential use of functional foods as a strategy to combat these effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antara Banerjee
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Indumathi Somasundaram
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Kolhapur Institute of Technology's College of Engineering, Kolhapur 416012, Maharashtra, India
| | - Diptimayee Das
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Samatha Jain Manoj
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Husaina Banu
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Pavane Mitta Suresh
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sujay Paul
- School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Queretaro, San Pablo 76130, Mexico
| | - Atil Bisgin
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Cukurova University, Adana 01250, Turkey
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Orebro University, SE-701 82 Orebro, Sweden
| | - Xiao-Feng Sun
- Division of Ocology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linkoping University, SE-581 83 Linkoping, Sweden
| | - Asim K Duttaroy
- Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0313 Oslo, Norway
| | - Surajit Pathak
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute (CHRI), Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE), Kelambakkam, Chennai 603103, Tamil Nadu, India
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sha A, Liu Y, Zhao X. SARS-CoV-2 and gastrointestinal diseases. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1177741. [PMID: 37323898 PMCID: PMC10267706 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1177741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which has caused serious challenges for public health systems worldwide. Literature review SARS-CoV-2 invades not only the respiratory system, but also the digestive system, causing a variety of gastrointestinal diseases. Significance Understanding the gastrointestinal diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2, and the damage mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 to the gastrointestinal tracts and gastrointestinal glands are crucial to treating the gastrointestinal diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion This review summarizes the gastrointestinal diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2, including gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders, gastrointestinal ulcer diseases, gastrointestinal bleeding, and gastrointestinal thrombotic diseases, etc. Furthermore, the mechanisms of gastrointestinal injury induced by SARS-COV-2 were analyzed and summarized, and the suggestions for drug prevention and treatment were put forward for the reference of clinical workers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ailong Sha
- School of Teacher Education, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, China
- School of Biology and Food Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yi Liu
- School of Biology and Food Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuewen Zhao
- School of Biology and Food Engineering, Chongqing Three Gorges University, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Halma MTJ, Plothe C, Marik P, Lawrie TA. Strategies for the Management of Spike Protein-Related Pathology. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1308. [PMID: 37317282 PMCID: PMC10222799 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051308] [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: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, a need has arisen to prevent and treat two related conditions, COVID-19 vaccine injury and long COVID-19, both of which can trace at least part of their aetiology to the spike protein, which can cause harm through several mechanisms. One significant mechanism of harm is vascular, and it is mediated by the spike protein, a common element of the COVID-19 illness, and it is related to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Given the significant number of people experiencing these two related conditions, it is imperative to develop treatment protocols, as well as to consider the diversity of people experiencing long COVID-19 and vaccine injury. This review summarizes the known treatment options for long COVID-19 and vaccine injury, their mechanisms, and their evidentiary basis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christof Plothe
- Center for Biophysical Osteopathy, Am Wegweiser 27, 55232 Alzey, Germany
| | - Paul Marik
- Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), 2001 L St. NW Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036, USA;
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Hwang IC, Valeriano VD, Song JH, Pereira M, Oh JK, Han K, Engstrand L, Kang DK. Mucosal immunization with lactiplantibacillus plantarum-displaying recombinant SARS-CoV-2 epitopes on the surface induces humoral and mucosal immune responses in mice. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:96. [PMID: 37161468 PMCID: PMC10169176 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02100-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of probiotic lactic acid bacteria as a mucosal vaccine vector is considered a promising alternative compared to the use of other microorganisms because of its "Generally Regarded as Safe" status, its potential adjuvant properties, and its tolerogenicity to the host. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), is highly transmissible and pathogenic. This study aimed to determine the potential of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum expressing SARS-CoV-2 epitopes as a mucosal vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS In this study, the possible antigenic determinants of the spike (S1-1, S1-2, S1-3, and S1-4), membrane (ME1 and ME2), and envelope (E) proteins of SARS-CoV-2 were predicted, and recombinant L. plantarum strains surface-displaying these epitopes were constructed. Subsequently, the immune responses induced by these recombinant strains were compared in vitro and in vivo. Most surface-displayed epitopes induced pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α and interleukin (IL)-6] and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7, with the highest anti-inflammatory to pro-inflammatory cytokine ratio in the S1-1 and S1-2 groups, followed by that in the S1-3 group. When orally administered of recombinant L. plantarum expressing SARS-CoV-2 epitopes in mice, all epitopes most increased the expression of IL-4, along with induced levels of TNF-α, interferon-gamma, and IL-10, specifically in spike protein groups. Thus, the surface expression of epitopes from the spike S1 protein in L. plantarum showed potential immunoregulatory effects, suggesting its ability to potentially circumvent hyperinflammatory states relevant to monocyte/macrophage cell activation. At 35 days post immunization (dpi), serum IgG levels showed a marked increase in the S1-1, S1-2, and S1-3 groups. Fecal IgA levels increased significantly from 21 dpi in all the antigen groups, but the boosting effect after 35 dpi was explicitly observed in the S1-1, S1-2, and S1-3 groups. Thus, the oral administration of SARS-CoV-2 antigens into mice induced significant humoral and mucosal immune responses. CONCLUSION This study suggests that L. plantarum is a potential vector that can effectively deliver SARS-CoV-2 epitopes to intestinal mucosal sites and could serve as a novel approach for SARS-CoV-2 mucosal vaccine development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- In-Chan Hwang
- Department of Animal Resources Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Valerie Diane Valeriano
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 17165, Sweden
| | - Ji Hoon Song
- Department of Animal Resources Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Marcela Pereira
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 17165, Sweden
| | - Ju Kyoung Oh
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 17165, Sweden
| | - Kyudong Han
- Department of Microbiology, College of Science and Technology, Dankook University, Cheonan, 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Lars Engstrand
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 17165, Sweden
| | - Dae-Kyung Kang
- Department of Animal Resources Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, 31116, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Schiffman SS, Nagle HT. Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection: does the artificial sweetener sucralose play a role? BMJ Open Gastroenterol 2023; 10:bmjgast-2023-001159. [PMID: 37173075 PMCID: PMC10186079 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgast-2023-001159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Susan S Schiffman
- Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University at Raleigh, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - H Troy Nagle
- Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University at Raleigh, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, North Carolina State University at Raleigh, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
de Nies L, Galata V, Martin-Gallausiaux C, Despotovic M, Busi SB, Snoeck CJ, Delacour L, Budagavi DP, Laczny CC, Habier J, Lupu PC, Halder R, Fritz JV, Marques T, Sandt E, O'Sullivan MP, Ghosh S, Satagopam V, Krüger R, Fagherazzi G, Ollert M, Hefeng FQ, May P, Wilmes P. Altered infective competence of the human gut microbiome in COVID-19. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:46. [PMID: 36894986 PMCID: PMC9995755 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01472-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infections with SARS-CoV-2 have a pronounced impact on the gastrointestinal tract and its resident microbiome. Clear differences between severe cases of infection and healthy individuals have been reported, including the loss of commensal taxa. We aimed to understand if microbiome alterations including functional shifts are unique to severe cases or a common effect of COVID-19. We used high-resolution systematic multi-omic analyses to profile the gut microbiome in asymptomatic-to-moderate COVID-19 individuals compared to a control group. RESULTS We found a striking increase in the overall abundance and expression of both virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes in COVID-19. Importantly, these genes are encoded and expressed by commensal taxa from families such as Acidaminococcaceae and Erysipelatoclostridiaceae, which we found to be enriched in COVID-19-positive individuals. We also found an enrichment in the expression of a betaherpesvirus and rotavirus C genes in COVID-19-positive individuals compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS Our analyses identified an altered and increased infective competence of the gut microbiome in COVID-19 patients. Video Abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura de Nies
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Valentina Galata
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Camille Martin-Gallausiaux
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Milena Despotovic
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Susheel Bhanu Busi
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Chantal J Snoeck
- Clinical and Applied Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Lea Delacour
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, LCSB Operations, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Deepthi Poornima Budagavi
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Cédric Christian Laczny
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Janine Habier
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Paula-Cristina Lupu
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Rashi Halder
- Scientific Central Services, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Joëlle V Fritz
- Transversal Translation Medicine, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Taina Marques
- Translational Neuroscience Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Estelle Sandt
- Translational Medicine Operations Hub, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Marc Paul O'Sullivan
- Translational Medicine Operations Hub, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Soumyabrata Ghosh
- Bioinformatics Core, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Venkata Satagopam
- Bioinformatics Core, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Rejko Krüger
- Transversal Translation Medicine, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
- Translational Neuroscience Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Guy Fagherazzi
- Deep Digital Phenotyping Research Unit, Department of Precision Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Markus Ollert
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Feng Q Hefeng
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Patrick May
- Bioinformatics Core, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Paul Wilmes
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 6, Avenue du Swing, L-4367, Belvaux, Luxembourg.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Consistent Stool Metagenomic Biomarkers Associated with the Response To Melanoma Immunotherapy. mSystems 2023; 8:e0102322. [PMID: 36809182 PMCID: PMC10134792 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01023-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiome plays an important role in both health and disease. Recent studies have demonstrated a strong influence of the gut microbiome composition on the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. However, available studies have not yet succeeded in finding reliable and consistent metagenomic markers that are associated with the response to immunotherapy. Therefore, the reanalysis of the published data may improve our understanding of the association between the composition of the gut microbiome and the treatment response. In this study, we focused on melanoma-related metagenomic data, which are more abundant than are data from other tumor types. We analyzed the metagenomes of 680 stool samples from 7 studies that were published earlier. The taxonomic and functional biomarkers were selected after comparing the metagenomes of patients showing different treatment responses. The list of selected biomarkers was also validated on additional metagenomic data sets that were dedicated to the influence of fecal microbiota transplantation on the response to melanoma immunotherapy. According to our analysis, the resulting cross-study taxonomic biomarkers included three bacterial species: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and Eubacterium rectale. 101 groups of genes were identified to be functional biomarkers, including those potentially involved in the production of immune-stimulating molecules and metabolites. Moreover, we ranked the microbial species by the number of genes encoding functionally relevant biomarkers that they contained. Thus, we put together a list of potentially the most beneficial bacteria for immunotherapy success. F. prausnitzii, E. rectale, and three species of bifidobacteria stood out as the most beneficial species, even though some useful functions were also present in other bacterial species. IMPORTANCE In this study, we put together a list of potentially the most beneficial bacteria that were associated with a responsiveness to melanoma immunotherapy. Another important result of this study is the list of functional biomarkers of responsiveness to immunotherapy, which are dispersed among different bacterial species. This result possibly explains the existing irregularities between studies regarding the bacterial species that are beneficial to melanoma immunotherapy. Overall, these findings can be utilized to issue recommendations for gut microbiome correction in cancer immunotherapy, and the resulting list of biomarkers might serve as a good stepping stone for the development of a diagnostic test that is aimed at predicting patients' responses to melanoma immunotherapy.
Collapse
|
26
|
Kim JG, Zhang A, Rauseo AM, Goss CW, Mudd PA, O'Halloran JA, Wang L. The salivary and nasopharyngeal microbiomes are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28445. [PMID: 36583481 PMCID: PMC9880756 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests the oral and upper respiratory microbiota may play important roles in modulating host immune responses to viral infection. As the host microbiome may be involved in the pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we investigated associations between the oral and nasopharyngeal microbiome and COVID-19 severity. We collected saliva (n = 78) and nasopharyngeal swab (n = 66) samples from a COVID-19 cohort and characterized the microbiomes using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. We also examined associations between the salivary and nasopharyngeal microbiome and age, COVID-19 symptoms, and blood cytokines. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection status, but not COVID-19 severity, was associated with community-level differences in the oral and nasopharyngeal microbiomes. Salivary and nasopharyngeal microbiome alpha diversity negatively correlated with age and were associated with fever and diarrhea. Oral Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Solobacterium were depleted in patients with severe COVID-19. Nasopharyngeal Paracoccus was depleted while nasopharyngeal Proteus, Cupravidus, and Lactobacillus were increased in patients with severe COVID-19. Further analysis revealed that the abundance of oral Bifidobacterium was negatively associated with plasma concentrations of known COVID-19 biomarkers interleukin 17F and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Our results suggest COVID-19 disease severity is associated with the relative abundance of certain bacterial taxa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josh G. Kim
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and ImmunologyWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Ai Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and ImmunologyWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Adriana M. Rauseo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious DiseasesWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Charles W. Goss
- Division of BiostatisticsWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Philip A. Mudd
- Department of Emergency MedicineWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Jane A. O'Halloran
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious DiseasesWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Leyao Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and ImmunologyWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMissouriUSA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
SeyedAlinaghi S, Afzalian A, Pashaei Z, Varshochi S, Karimi A, Mojdeganlou H, Mojdeganlou P, Razi A, Ghanadinezhad F, Shojaei A, Amiri A, Dashti M, Ghasemzadeh A, Dadras O, Mehraeen E, Afsahi AM. Gut microbiota and COVID-19: A systematic review. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1080. [PMID: 36721396 PMCID: PMC9881458 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Alteration in humans' gut microbiota was reported in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The gut and upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiota harbor a dynamic and complex population of microorganisms and have strong interaction with host immune system homeostasis. However, our knowledge about microbiota and its association with SARS-CoV-2 is still limited. We aimed to systematically review the effects of gut microbiota on the SARS-CoV-2 infection and its severity and the impact that SARS-CoV-2 could have on the gut microbiota. Methods We searched the keywords in the online databases of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane on December 31, 2021. After duplicate removal, we performed the screening process in two stages; title/abstract and then full-text screening. The data of the eligible studies were extracted into a pre-designed word table. This study adhered to the PRISMA checklist and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale Bias Assessment tool. Results Sixty-three publications were included in this review. Our study shows that among COVID-19 patients, particularly moderate to severe cases, the gut and lung microbiota was different compared to healthy individuals. In addition, the severity, and viral load of COVID-19 disease would probably also be influenced by the gut, and lung microbiota's composition. Conclusion Our study concludes that there was a significant difference in the composition of the URT, and gut microbiota in COVID-19 patients compared to the general healthy individuals, with an increase in opportunistic pathogens. Further, research is needed to investigate the probable bidirectional association of COVID-19 and human microbiome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High Risk BehaviorsTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Arian Afzalian
- School of MedicineTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Zahra Pashaei
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High Risk BehaviorsTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Sanaz Varshochi
- School of MedicineTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Amirali Karimi
- School of MedicineTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | | | | | - Armin Razi
- School of MedicineTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | | | - Alireza Shojaei
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High Risk BehaviorsTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Ava Amiri
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High Risk BehaviorsTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Mohsen Dashti
- Department of RadiologyTabriz University of Medical SciencesTabrizIran
| | | | - Omid Dadras
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High Risk BehaviorsTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary CareUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
| | - Esmaeil Mehraeen
- Department of Health Information TechnologyKhalkhal University of Medical SciencesKhalkhalIran
| | - Amir Masoud Afsahi
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of California, San Diego (UCSD)CaliforniaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wang M, Zhang Y, Li C, Chang W, Zhang L. The relationship between gut microbiota and COVID-19 progression: new insights into immunopathogenesis and treatment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1180336. [PMID: 37205106 PMCID: PMC10185909 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1180336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has posed a global health crisis. Increasing evidence underlines the key role of competent immune responses in resisting SARS-CoV-2 infection and manifests the disastrous consequence of host immune dysregulation. Elucidating the mechanisms responsible for deregulated host immunity in COVID-19 may provide a theoretical basis for further research on new treatment modalities. Gut microbiota comprises trillions of microorganisms colonizing the human gastrointestinal tract and has a vital role in immune homeostasis and the gut-lung crosstalk. Particularly, SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to the disruption of gut microbiota equilibrium, a condition called gut dysbiosis. Due to its regulatory effect on host immunity, gut microbiota has recently received considerable attention in the field of SARS-CoV-2 immunopathology. Imbalanced gut microbiota can fuel COVID-19 progression through production of bioactive metabolites, intestinal metabolism, enhancement of the cytokine storm, exaggeration of inflammation, regulation of adaptive immunity and other aspects. In this review, we provide an overview of the alterations in gut microbiota in COVID-19 patients, and their effects on individuals' susceptibility to viral infection and COVID-19 progression. Moreover, we summarize currently available data on the critical role of the bidirectional regulation between intestinal microbes and host immunity in SARS-CoV-2-induced pathology, and highlight the immunomodulatory mechanisms of gut microbiota contributing to COVID-19 pathogenesis. In addition, we discuss the therapeutic benefits and future perspectives of microbiota-targeted interventions including faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), bacteriotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in COVID-19 treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Man Wang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Man Wang, ; Chunmei Li,
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chunmei Li
- Department of Radiology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Man Wang, ; Chunmei Li,
| | - Wenguang Chang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Bacorn M, Romero-Soto HN, Levy S, Chen Q, Hourigan SK. The Gut Microbiome of Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122460. [PMID: 36557713 PMCID: PMC9783902 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome has been shown to play a critical role in maintaining a healthy state. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome is involved in modulating disease severity and potentially contributes to long-term outcomes in adults with COVID-19. Due to children having a significantly lower risk of severe illness and limited sample availability, much less is known about the role of the gut microbiome in children with COVID-19. It is well recognized that the developing gut microbiome of children differs from that of adults, but it is unclear if this difference contributes to the different clinical presentations and complications. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge of the gut microbiome in children with COVID-19, with gut microbiome dysbiosis being found in pediatric COVID-19 but specific taxa change often differing from those described in adults. Additionally, we discuss possible mechanisms of how the gut microbiome may mediate the presentation and complications of COVID-19 in children and the potential role for microbial therapeutics.
Collapse
|
30
|
Hazan S, Dave S, Papoutsis AJ, Deshpande N, Howell MC, Martin LM. Vitamin C improves gut Bifidobacteria in humans. Future Microbiol 2022. [PMID: 36475828 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims: Numerous beneficial effects of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplementation have been reported in the literature. However, data on its effects toward the gut microbiome are limited. We assessed the effect of vitamin C supplementation on the abundance of beneficial bacterial species in the gut microbiome. Materials and methods: Stool samples were analyzed for relative abundance of gut microbiome bacteria using next-generation sequencing-based profiling and metagenomic shotgun analysis. Results: Supplementation with vitamin C increased the abundance of bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium (p = 0.0001) and affected various species. Conclusion: The beneficial effects of vitamin C supplementation may be attributed to modulation of the gut microbiome and the consequent health benefits thereof.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Hazan
- ProgenaBIome, LLC, Ventura, CA 93003, USA
- Mcrobiome Research Foundation, Ventura, CA 93003, USA
| | - Sonya Dave
- Mcrobiome Research Foundation, Ventura, CA 93003, USA
| | | | | | | | - Leisha Ma Martin
- Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Department of Life Sciences, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Mazzarelli A, Giancola ML, Fontana A, Piselli P, Binda E, Trivieri N, Mencarelli G, Marchioni L, Vulcano A, De Giuli C, Panebianco C, Villani A, Copetti M, Perri F, Fontana C, Nicastri E, Pazienza V. Gut microbiota composition in COVID-19 hospitalized patients with mild or severe symptoms. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1049215. [PMID: 36560946 PMCID: PMC9763305 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1049215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aimCOVID-19, the infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus that has been causing a severe pandemic worldwide for more than 2 years, is characterized by a high heterogeneity of clinical presentations and evolution and, particularly, by a varying severity of respiratory involvement. This study aimed to analyze the diversity and taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota at hospital admission, in order to evaluate its association with COVID-19 outcome. In particular, the association between gut microbiota and a combination of several clinical covariates was analyzed in order to characterize the bacterial signature associate to mild or severe symptoms during the SARS-CoV-2 infection.Materials and methodsV3–V4 hypervariable region of 16S rRNA gene sequencing of 97 rectal swabs from a retrospective cohort of COVID-19 hospitalized patients was employed to study the gut microbiota composition. Patients were divided in two groups according to their outcome considering the respiratory supports they needed during hospital stay: (i) group “mild,” including 47 patients with a good prognosis and (ii) group “severe,” including 50 patients who experienced a more severe disease due to severe respiratory distress that required non-invasive or invasive ventilation. Identification of the clusters of bacterial population between patients with mild or severe outcome was assessed by PEnalized LOgistic Regression Analysis (PELORA).ResultsAlthough no changes for Chao1 and Shannon index were observed between the two groups a significant greater proportion of Campylobacterota and Actinobacteriota at phylum level was found in patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection who developed a more severe disease characterized by respiratory distress requiring invasive or non-invasive ventilation. Clusters have been identified with a useful early potential prognostic marker of the disease evolution.DiscussionMicroorganisms residing within the gut of the patients at hospital admission, were able to significantly discriminate the clinical evolution of COVID-19 patients, in particular who will develop mild or severe respiratory involvement. Our data show that patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 with mild or severe symptoms display different gut microbiota profiles which can be exploited as potential prognostic biomarkers paving also the way to new integrative therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mazzarelli
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, INMI “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Giancola
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, INMI “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Fontana
- Biostatistic Unit, Fondazione-IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Pierluca Piselli
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, INMI “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Binda
- Cancer Stem Cells Unit, Institute for Stem Cell Biologyl, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics (ISBReMIT), Fondazione-IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, Opera di San Pio da Pietrelcina, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Nadia Trivieri
- Cancer Stem Cells Unit, Institute for Stem Cell Biologyl, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics (ISBReMIT), Fondazione-IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, Opera di San Pio da Pietrelcina, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Gandino Mencarelli
- Cancer Stem Cells Unit, Institute for Stem Cell Biologyl, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics (ISBReMIT), Fondazione-IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, Opera di San Pio da Pietrelcina, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Luisa Marchioni
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, INMI “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Vulcano
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, INMI “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara De Giuli
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, INMI “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Panebianco
- Division of Gastroenterology, Fondazione-IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Annacandida Villani
- Division of Gastroenterology, Fondazione-IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Copetti
- Biostatistic Unit, Fondazione-IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Francesco Perri
- Division of Gastroenterology, Fondazione-IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Carla Fontana
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, INMI “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Nicastri
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, INMI “Lazzaro Spallanzani”, IRCCS, Rome, Italy,*Correspondence: Emanuele Nicastri,
| | - Valerio Pazienza
- Division of Gastroenterology, Fondazione-IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy,Valerio Pazienza,
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Yadav A, Pandey R. Viral infectious diseases severity: co-presence of transcriptionally active microbes (TAMs) can play an integral role for disease severity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1056036. [PMID: 36532032 PMCID: PMC9755851 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1056036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans have been challenged by infectious diseases for all of their recorded history, and are continually being affected even today. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enabled identification of, i) culture independent microbes, ii) emerging disease-causing pathogens, and iii) understanding of the genome architecture. This, in turn, has highlighted that pathogen/s are not a monolith, and thereby allowing for the differentiation of the wide-ranging disease symptoms, albeit infected by a primary pathogen. The conventional 'one disease - one pathogen' paradigm has been positively revisited by considering limited yet important evidence of the co-presence of multiple transcriptionally active microbes (TAMs), potential pathogens, in various infectious diseases, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The ubiquitous microbiota presence inside humans gives reason to hypothesize that the microbiome, especially TAMs, contributes to disease etiology. Herein, we discuss current evidence and inferences on the co-infecting microbes particularly in the diseases caused by the RNA viruses - Influenza, Dengue, and the SARS-CoV-2. We have highlighted that the specific alterations in the microbial taxonomic abundances (dysbiosis) is functionally connected to the exposure of primary infecting pathogen/s. The microbial presence is intertwined with the differential host immune response modulating differential disease trajectories. The microbiota-host interactions have been shown to modulate the host immune responses to Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection, wherein the active commensal microbes are involved in the generation of virus-specific CD4 and CD8 T-cells following the influenza virus infection. Furthermore, COVID-19 dysbiosis causes an increase in inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β, which might be one of the important predisposing factors for severe infection. Through this article, we aim to provide a comprehensive view of functional microbiomes that can have a significant regulatory impact on predicting disease severity (mild, moderate and severe), as well as clinical outcome (survival and mortality). This can offer fresh perspectives on the novel microbial biomarkers for stratifying patients for severe disease symptoms, disease prevention and augmenting treatment regimens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aanchal Yadav
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Rajesh Pandey
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease Biology, INtegrative GENomics of HOst-PathogEn (INGEN-HOPE) laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), Delhi, India,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India,*Correspondence: Rajesh Pandey, ;
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Shen S, Gong M, Wang G, Dua K, Xu J, Xu X, Liu G. COVID-19 and Gut Injury. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14204409. [PMID: 36297092 PMCID: PMC9608818 DOI: 10.3390/nu14204409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently a pandemic and it has led to more than 620 million patients with 6.56 million deaths globally. Males are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection and associated with a higher chance to develop severe COVID-19 than females. Aged people are at a high risk of COVID-19 infection, while young children have also increased cases. COVID-19 patients typically develop respiratory system pathologies, however symptoms in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are also very common. Inflammatory cell recruitments and their secreted cytokines are found in the GI tract in COVID-19 patients. Microbiota changes are the key feature in COVID-19 patients with gut injury. Here, we review all current known mechanisms of COVID-19-induced gut injury, and the most acceptable one is that SARS-CoV-2 binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor on host cells in the GI tract. Interestingly, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an inflammatory disorder, but the patients with IBD do not have the increased risk to develop COVID-19. There is currently no cure for COVID-19, but anti-viruses and monoclonal antibodies reduce viral load and shorten the recovery time of the disease. We summarize current therapeutics that target symptoms in the GI tract, including probiotics, ACE2 inhibitors and nutrients. These are promising therapeutic options for COVID-19-induced gut injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sj Shen
- UNSW Microbiome Research Centre, St George and Sutherland Clinical Campus, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia
| | - Muxue Gong
- School of Clinical Medicine, Bengbu Medicine College, Bengbu 233030, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Kamal Dua
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
- Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Jincheng Xu
- Stomatology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233004, China
- School of Dental Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu 233030, China
| | - Xiaoyue Xu
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Gang Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
- Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Rocchi G, Giovanetti M, Benedetti F, Borsetti A, Ceccarelli G, Zella D, Altomare A, Ciccozzi M, Guarino MPL. Gut Microbiota and COVID-19: Potential Implications for Disease Severity. Pathogens 2022; 11:1050. [PMID: 36145482 PMCID: PMC9503814 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11091050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented global crisis. SARS-CoV-2 primarily causes lung infection trough the binding of the virus with the ACE-2 cell receptor located on the surface of the alveolar epithelial cells. Notably, ACE-2 cell receptors are also expressed in the epithelial cells of the intestinal tract (GI). Recent data showed that the microbial communities of the GI might act as local and systematic inflammatory modulators. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, are frequently observed in infected individuals, and recent released data indicate that SARS-CoV-2 may also spread by fecal-oral transmission. Moreover, the gut microbiota's ecosystem can regulate and be regulated by invading pathogens, including viruses, facilitating an effective immune response, which in turn results in less severe diseases. In this regard, increased SARS-CoV-2 mortality and morbidities appear to be frequently observed in elderly immunocompromised patients and in people with essential health problems, such as diabetes, who, indeed, tend to have a less diverse gut microbiota (dysbiosis). Therefore, it is important to understand how the interaction between the gut microbiota and SARS-CoV-2 might shape the intensity of the infection and different clinical outcomes. Here, we provide insights into the current knowledge of dysbiosis during SARS-CoV-2 infection and methods that may be used to re-establish a more correct microbiota composition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Rocchi
- Department of Science and Engineering for Human and the Environment, University of Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Laboratorio de Flavivirus, lnstituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
- Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, University of Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Benedetti
- Institute of Human Virology and Global Virus Network Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Alessandra Borsetti
- National HIV/AIDS Research Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ceccarelli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Zella
- Institute of Human Virology and Global Virus Network Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Annamaria Altomare
- Department of Science and Technology for Humans and the Environment, University of Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Unit of Digestive Disease, Campus Bio-Medico University, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Medical Statistic and Molecular Epidemiology Unit, University of Biomedical Campus, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
McGowan J, Borucki M, Omairi H, Varghese M, Vellani S, Chakravarty S, Fan S, Chattopadhyay S, Siddiquee M, Thissen JB, Mulakken N, Moon J, Kimbrel J, Tiwari AK, Taylor RT, Kang DW, Jaing C, Chakravarti R, Chattopadhyay S. SARS-CoV-2 Monitoring in Wastewater Reveals Novel Variants and Biomarkers of Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:2032. [PMID: 36146835 PMCID: PMC9503862 DOI: 10.3390/v14092032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a popular tool for the early indication of community spread of infectious diseases. WBE emerged as an effective tool during the COVID-19 pandemic and has provided meaningful information to minimize the spread of infection. Here, we present a combination of analyses using the correlation of viral gene copies with clinical cases, sequencing of wastewater-derived RNA for the viral mutants, and correlative analyses of the viral gene copies with the bacterial biomarkers. Our study provides a unique platform for potentially using the WBE-derived results to predict the spread of COVID-19 and the emergence of new variants of concern. Further, we observed a strong correlation between the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and changes in the microbial community of wastewater, particularly the significant changes in bacterial genera belonging to the families of Lachnospiraceae and Actinomycetaceae. Our study shows that microbial biomarkers could be utilized as prediction tools for future infectious disease surveillance and outbreak responses. Overall, our comprehensive analyses of viral spread, variants, and novel bacterial biomarkers will add significantly to the growing body of literature on WBE and COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna McGowan
- Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Monica Borucki
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - Hicham Omairi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Toledo College of Engineering, Toledo, OH 43607, USA
| | - Merina Varghese
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Shahnaz Vellani
- Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Sukanya Chakravarty
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Shumin Fan
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Srestha Chattopadhyay
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Mashuk Siddiquee
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Toledo College of Engineering, Toledo, OH 43607, USA
| | - James B Thissen
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - Nisha Mulakken
- Computing Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - Joseph Moon
- Computing Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - Jeffrey Kimbrel
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - Amit K Tiwari
- College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
- Center for Medical Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Roger Travis Taylor
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Dae-Wook Kang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Toledo College of Engineering, Toledo, OH 43607, USA
| | - Crystal Jaing
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA
| | - Ritu Chakravarti
- Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Saurabh Chattopadhyay
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Kell DB, Pretorius E. The potential role of ischaemia-reperfusion injury in chronic, relapsing diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Long COVID, and ME/CFS: evidence, mechanisms, and therapeutic implications. Biochem J 2022; 479:1653-1708. [PMID: 36043493 PMCID: PMC9484810 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20220154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ischaemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury, initiated via bursts of reactive oxygen species produced during the reoxygenation phase following hypoxia, is well known in a variety of acute circumstances. We argue here that I-R injury also underpins elements of the pathology of a variety of chronic, inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, ME/CFS and, our chief focus and most proximally, Long COVID. Ischaemia may be initiated via fibrin amyloid microclot blockage of capillaries, for instance as exercise is started; reperfusion is a necessary corollary when it finishes. We rehearse the mechanistic evidence for these occurrences here, in terms of their manifestation as oxidative stress, hyperinflammation, mast cell activation, the production of marker metabolites and related activities. Such microclot-based phenomena can explain both the breathlessness/fatigue and the post-exertional malaise that may be observed in these conditions, as well as many other observables. The recognition of these processes implies, mechanistically, that therapeutic benefit is potentially to be had from antioxidants, from anti-inflammatories, from iron chelators, and via suitable, safe fibrinolytics, and/or anti-clotting agents. We review the considerable existing evidence that is consistent with this, and with the biochemical mechanisms involved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B. Kell
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet 200, 2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Etheresia Pretorius
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Lymberopoulos E, Gentili GI, Budhdeo S, Sharma N. COVID-19 severity is associated with population-level gut microbiome variations. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:963338. [PMID: 36081770 PMCID: PMC9445151 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.963338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiome interacts with many diseases, with recent small studies suggesting a link with COVID-19 severity. Exploring this association at the population-level may provide novel insights and help to explain differences in COVID-19 severity between countries. We explore whether there is an association between the gut microbiome of people within different countries and the severity of COVID-19, measured as hospitalisation rate. We use data from the large (n = 3,055) open-access gut microbiome repository curatedMetagenomicData, as well as demographic and country-level metadata. Twelve countries were placed into two groups (high/low) according to COVID-19 hospitalisation rate before December 2020 (ourworldindata.com). We use an unsupervised machine learning method, Topological Data Analysis (TDA). This method analyses both the local geometry and global topology of a high-dimensional dataset, making it particularly suitable for population-level microbiome data. We report an association of distinct baseline population-level gut microbiome signatures with COVID-19 severity. This was found both with a PERMANOVA, as well as with TDA. Specifically, it suggests an association of anti-inflammatory bacteria, including Bifidobacteria species and Eubacterium rectale, with lower severity, and pro-inflammatory bacteria such as Prevotella copri with higher severity. This study also reports a significant impact of country-level confounders, specifically of the proportion of over 70-year-olds in the population, GDP, and human development index. Further interventional studies should examine whether these relationships are causal, as well as considering the contribution of other variables such as genetics, lifestyle, policy, and healthcare system. The results of this study support the value of a population-level association design in microbiome research in general and for the microbiome-COVID-19 relationship, in particular. Finally, this research underscores the potential of TDA for microbiome studies, and in identifying novel associations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Lymberopoulos
- The Sharma Lab, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, England
- Centre for Doctoral Training in AI-London enabled Healthcare Systems, Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, England
| | - Giorgia Isabella Gentili
- The Sharma Lab, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, England
| | - Sanjay Budhdeo
- The Sharma Lab, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, England
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, England
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, England
| | - Nikhil Sharma
- The Sharma Lab, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, England
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Hazan S. Microbiome-Based Hypothesis on Ivermectin's Mechanism in COVID-19: Ivermectin Feeds Bifidobacteria to Boost Immunity. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:952321. [PMID: 35898916 PMCID: PMC9309549 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.952321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic agent that has gained attention as a potential COVID-19 therapeutic. It is a compound of the type Avermectin, which is a fermented by-product of Streptomyces avermitilis. Bifidobacterium is a member of the same phylum as Streptomyces spp., suggesting it may have a symbiotic relation with Streptomyces. Decreased Bifidobacterium levels are observed in COVID-19 susceptibility states, including old age, autoimmune disorder, and obesity. We hypothesize that Ivermectin, as a by-product of Streptomyces fermentation, is capable of feeding Bifidobacterium, thereby possibly preventing against COVID-19 susceptibilities. Moreover, Bifidobacterium may be capable of boosting natural immunity, offering more direct COVID-19 protection. These data concord with our study, as well as others, that show Ivermectin protects against COVID-19.
Collapse
|
39
|
Gastrointestinal Involvement in SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061188. [PMID: 35746659 PMCID: PMC9228950 DOI: 10.3390/v14061188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has evolved into a virus that primarily results in mild or asymptomatic disease, making its transmission more challenging to control. In addition to the respiratory tract, SARS-CoV-2 also infects the digestive tract. Some gastrointestinal symptoms occur with or before respiratory symptoms in patients with COVID-19. Respiratory infections are known to cause intestinal immune impairment and gastrointestinal symptoms. When the intestine is inflamed, cytokines affect the lung immune response and inflammation through blood circulation. The gastrointestinal microbiome may be a modifiable factor in determining the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity. The development of oral SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates and the maintenance of gut microbiota profiles may contribute to the early control of COVID-19 outbreaks. To this end, this review summarizes information on the gastrointestinal complications caused by SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-2 infection, the gastrointestinal–lung axis immune response, potential control strategies for oral vaccine candidates and maintaining intestinal microbiota homeostasis.
Collapse
|