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Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
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Association Between Gut Microbiota and Pneumonia Risk: A Systematic Review and Mendelian Randomization

Qingping Deng1, Yuanyuan Liu2, Hui Rong2

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 111 Dade Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China.

International Journal of Medical Sciences
|September 17, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals specific gut bacteria linked to COVID-19 severity. Certain microbes increase risk, while others, like Oxalobacter, offer protection across different disease stages.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiome Research
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology
  • Genetic Epidemiology

Background:

  • The gut-lung axis is implicated in COVID-19 pathogenesis.
  • Gut microbiota composition and metabolites may influence COVID-19 severity.
  • Mendelian randomization (MR) offers a tool to investigate causal links.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a meta-analysis of MR studies examining the causal relationship between gut microbiota and COVID-19 severity.
  • To identify specific gut microbial taxa and metabolites associated with different strata of COVID-19 severity.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of MR studies adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
  • Meta-analysis of data from 11 studies (32,748,274 participants; 1,487 SNPs).
  • Analysis across four COVID-19 severity strata: susceptibility, infection, hospitalization, and critical disease.

Main Results:

  • Specific bacteria like Actinobacteria and Negativicutes were associated with increased COVID-19 susceptibility and severity.
  • Protective effects were observed for Oxalobacter and Ruminococcaceae UCG014 against COVID-19 susceptibility.
  • Consistent risk factors across severity included Actinobacteria, Negativicutes, and Alloprevotella; Oxalobacter and Parasutterella showed protective effects.

Conclusions:

  • Robust evidence supports severity-specific causal effects of gut microbiota on COVID-19 outcomes.
  • Identified microbial taxa and metabolites serve as potential biomarkers for risk stratification.
  • These findings suggest novel targets for adjuvant therapeutic strategies in COVID-19 management.
Keywords:
COVID-19Mendelian randomizationgut microbiotameta-analysis

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