Clinical practices underlie COVID-19 patient respiratory microbiome composition and its interactions with the host.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the pathology of COVID-19 is a global research priority. Early evidence suggests that the respiratory microbiome may be playing a role in disease progression, yet current studies report contradictory results. Here, we examine potential confounders in COVID-19 respiratory microbiome studies by analyzing the upper (n = 58) and lower (n = 35) respiratory tract microbiome in well-phenotyped COVID-19 patients and controls combining microbiome sequencing, viral load determination, and immunoprofiling. We find that time in the intensive care unit and type of oxygen support, as well as associated treatments such as antibiotic usage, explain the most variation within the upper respiratory tract microbiome, while SARS-CoV-2 viral load has a reduced impact. Specifically, mechanical vent

SUBMITTER: Llorens-Rico V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8556379 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature