Gut microbiome dysbiosis during COVID-19 is associated with increased risk for bacteremia and microbial translocation.

ABSTRACT: The microbial populations in the gut microbiome have recently been associated with COVID-19 disease severity. However, a causal impact of the gut microbiome on COVID-19 patient health has not been established. Here we provide evidence that gut microbiome dysbiosis is associated with translocation of bacteria into the blood during COVID-19, causing life-threatening secondary infections. Antibiotics and other treatments during COVID-19 can potentially confound microbiome associations. We therefore first demonstrate that the gut microbiome is directly affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection in a dose-dependent manner in a mouse model, causally linking viral infection and gut microbiome dysbiosis. Comparison with stool samples collected from 97 COVID-19 patients at two different clinical sites also r

SUBMITTER: Venzon M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8328072 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature