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Alterations of the gut microbiota in coronavirus disease 2019 and its therapeutic potential

Hui Xiang1, Qi-Ping Liu2

  • 1Department of Infectious Disease, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404100, China. xianghui9312@163.com.

World Journal of Gastroenterology
|January 9, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic is linked to gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut bacteria. Understanding this gut microbiota alteration is crucial for developing new treatments for coronavirus disease 2019.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, presents a global health challenge.
  • SARS-CoV-2 targets angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, found in lung and gut epithelial cells.
  • COVID-19 frequently involves gastrointestinal symptoms and gut dysbiosis, marked by altered microbial composition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of gut microbiota alterations in COVID-19.
  • To highlight the clinical correlation between gut dysbiosis and COVID-19.
  • To investigate the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 impacts the gut microbiota.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies on gut microbiota in COVID-19 patients.
  • Analysis of the relationship between gut dysbiosis and COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Examination of the pathways (fecal-oral, circulatory, immune) linking SARS-CoV-2 to gut dysbiosis.

Main Results:

  • COVID-19 is associated with significant gut microbiota alterations, including increased opportunistic pathogens and decreased beneficial bacteria.
  • Gut microbiota and its metabolites play a role in immune response regulation and antiviral effects.
  • Gut dysbiosis is closely linked to common gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19, such as diarrhea.

Conclusions:

  • The gut microbiota's contribution to COVID-19 pathogenesis and symptoms is significant and warrants attention.
  • Targeting the gut microbiota through interventions like probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation may offer future therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research is urgently needed to elucidate specific gut microbiota alterations, mechanisms, and their precise role in COVID-19.
Keywords:
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2COVID-19DysbiosisGut microbiotaLungSARS-CoV-2

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