Autoimmunity and COVID-19 - The microbiotal connection

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• The novel SARS-CoV-2 virus causes COVID-19, presenting a wide spectrum of disease severity.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations and the gut microbiome's role in immunity are increasingly recognized in COVID-19.
• Investigating the gut microbiome in COVID-19 may reveal links to autoimmune diseases like lupus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and connect data on the gut microbiome, GI tract, and COVID-19.
• To investigate similarities between gut microbiome alterations in COVID-19 and lupus patients.
• To explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiota for COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• Extensive literature review using PubMed and Google Scholar.
• Searched for terms: microbiome, dysbiosis, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, gastrointestinal, lupus, autoimmune.
• Compared findings from COVID-19 microbiome studies with those from lupus microbiome studies.

Main Results:

• Similar immune dysregulation processes observed in COVID-19 and lupus patients.
• Shared alterations include reduced microbiota biodiversity and increased pathobionts (e.g., Proteobacteria).
• A decrease in beneficial symbionts (e.g., Lactobacillus) and compromised intestinal barrier integrity were noted in both conditions.

Conclusions:

• The GI tract plays a role in COVID-19 manifestations, but causality of dysbiosis is debated.
• Similarities in gut microbiome profiles between COVID-19 and lupus suggest shared underlying mechanisms.
• Microbiome manipulation (e.g., nutritional supplements, fecal transplants) may offer low-risk, low-cost therapeutic avenues for COVID-19.