Gut microbiota composition reflects disease severity and dysfunctional immune responses in patients with COVID-19

[helvella]

The possible implications of gut microbiota have often been discussed here in relation to thyroid disorders and more. It is in the spirit of adding to that, I post about the new paper below.

Please try to keep comments to this subject.

Gut microbiota composition reflects disease severity and dysfunctional immune responses in patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Objective

Although COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory illness, there is mounting evidence suggesting that the GI tract is involved in this disease. We investigated whether the gut microbiome is linked to disease severity in patients with COVID-19, and whether perturbations in microbiome composition, if any, resolve with clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Methods

In this two-hospital cohort study, we obtained blood, stool and patient records from 100 patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Serial stool samples were collected from 27 of the 100 patients up to 30 days after clearance of SARS-CoV-2. Gut microbiome compositions were characterised by shotgun sequencing total DNA extracted from stools. Concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and blood markers were measured from plasma.

Results

Gut microbiome composition was significantly altered in patients with COVID-19 compared with non-COVID-19 individuals irrespective of whether patients had received medication (p<0.01). Several gut commensals with known immunomodulatory potential such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Eubacterium rectale and bifidobacteria were underrepresented in patients and remained low in samples collected up to 30 days after disease resolution. Moreover, this perturbed composition exhibited stratification with disease severity concordant with elevated concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and blood markers such as C reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase.

Conclusion

Associations between gut microbiota composition, levels of cytokines and inflammatory markers in patients with COVID-19 suggest that the gut microbiome is involved in the magnitude of COVID-19 severity possibly via modulating host immune responses. Furthermore, the gut microbiota dysbiosis after disease resolution could contribute to persistent symptoms, highlighting a need to understand how gut microorganisms are involved in inflammation and COVID-19.[/i

creativecommons.org/license...

Full paper available here:

dx.doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2...

gut.bmj.com/content/early/2...

[Ernest2]

One day I guess we will be able to check this at home with a simple adapter connected to a laptop. Have a look at Oxford nanopore technology e.g

nanoporetech.com/about-us/n...

Funny, when I first looked at who made sequencing technology I didn't understand where Ox Nanopore could fit into the market.

Happy New Year!

Best wishes,

Ernest

[Hidden]

Hi HelvellaThank you for posting this interesting study. In my PhD research I found a study regarding COVID tests and acute Thyroiditis. The study’s conclusion is COVID symptoms can exacerbate symptoms of thyroiditis.

👍

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Hidden]

From the completely non-scientific point of view, I'd have been surprised were that NOT the case!

[LindaC]

Thank you - once again!

[Topsy33]

Interesting study. Once again, I am struck by the similarities between post COVID morbidities and those symptoms familiar to many of us on this forum. It suggests further research and a re examination of existing Thyroid research using an alternative mind set that ditches a lot of assumptions that prevent progress in moving forward....oh and believing patients would be a good start!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Topsy33]

There is plenty about Covid-19 which suggests thyroid hormones need to be looked at very closely.

Despite the researches into non-thyroidal illness/euthyroid sick syndrome, we are far from fully understanding what happens and why.

[C70rol in reply to helvella]

Would you say that the vaccine is safe with Hashimotos people

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to C70rol]

I really don't know enough to say that it is safe. That would take deeper understanding than I have.

I'll go as far as saying that I have not seen any reports that there are problems/issues in those with Hashimoto's receiving any of the current Covid-19 vaccines.

(As I don't have Hashimoto's, even saying I intend to get vaccinated doesn't help answer you.)