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The Gut Microbiome of Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mickayla Bacorn1, Hector N Romero-Soto1, Shira Levy1

  • 1Clinical Microbiome Unit (CMU), Laboratory of Host Immunity and Microbiome (LHIM), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Microorganisms
|December 23, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The gut microbiome plays a role in pediatric COVID-19, with dysbiosis observed in children. Understanding these gut bacteria changes may reveal therapeutic strategies for children with COVID-19.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • The gut microbiome is crucial for health, and its dysbiosis impacts COVID-19 severity in adults.
  • Children exhibit distinct gut microbiome development compared to adults.
  • Limited research exists on the gut microbiome's role in pediatric COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on the gut microbiome in children with COVID-19.
  • To explore differences in gut microbiome dysbiosis between pediatric and adult COVID-19 cases.
  • To discuss potential mechanisms and therapeutic interventions targeting the gut microbiome in pediatric COVID-19.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on pediatric COVID-19 and the gut microbiome.
  • Comparative analysis of gut microbiome alterations in children versus adults with COVID-19.
  • Exploration of potential mechanistic links between gut dysbiosis and COVID-19 presentation in children.

Main Results:

  • Gut microbiome dysbiosis is present in pediatric COVID-19.
  • Specific gut bacterial taxa changes in children with COVID-19 often differ from those in adults.
  • The developing gut microbiome in children may influence COVID-19 clinical presentation and complications.

Conclusions:

  • Gut microbiome dysbiosis is a feature of pediatric COVID-19, with distinct patterns compared to adults.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which the gut microbiome influences pediatric COVID-19.
  • Microbial therapeutics hold potential for managing COVID-19 in children.

Keywords:
SARS-CoV-2childrengut barrier integrityhygiene hypothesisimmune educationmicrobiota

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