Distinct gut microbiota and health outcomes in asymptomatic infection, viral nucleic acid test re‐positive, and convalescent COVID‐19 cases
Ruqin Lin,
Mingzhong Xiao,
Shanshan Cao,
Yu Sun,
Linhua Zhao,
Xiaoxiao Mao,
Peng Chen,
Xiaolin Tong,
Zheyuan Ou,
Hui Zhu,
Dong Men,
Xiaodong Li,
Yiqun Deng,
Xian‐En Zhang,
Jikai Wen
Affiliations
Ruqin Lin
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Mingzhong Xiao
Hepatic Disease Institute, Hubei Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Wuhan China
Shanshan Cao
State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega‐Science Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
Yu Sun
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Linhua Zhao
Department of Endocrinology Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing China
Xiaoxiao Mao
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Peng Chen
Hepatic Disease Institute, Hubei Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Wuhan China
Xiaolin Tong
Department of Endocrinology Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing China
Zheyuan Ou
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Hui Zhu
Hepatic Disease Institute, Hubei Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Wuhan China
Dong Men
State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega‐Science Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
Xiaodong Li
Hepatic Disease Institute, Hubei Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Research of Liver and Kidney in Traditional Chinese Medicine Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Wuhan China
Yiqun Deng
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Xian‐En Zhang
National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
Jikai Wen
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences South China Agricultural University Guangzhou China
Abstract Gut microbiota composition is suggested to associate with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) severity, but the impact of gut microbiota on health outcomes is largely unclear. We recruited 81 individuals from Wuhan, China, including 13 asymptomatic infection cases (Group A), 24 COVID‐19 convalescents with adverse outcomes (Group C), 31 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) re‐positive cases (Group D), and 13 non‐COVID‐19 healthy controls (Group H). The microbial features of Groups A and D were similar and exhibited higher gut microbial diversity and more abundant short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA)‐producing species than Group C. Group C was enriched with opportunistic pathogens and virulence factors related to adhesion and toxin production. The abundance of SCFA‐producing species was negatively correlated, while Escherichia coli was positively correlated with adverse outcomes. All three groups (A, C, and D) were enriched with the mucus‐degrading species Akkermansia muciniphila, but decreased with Bacteroides‐encoded carbohydrate‐active enzymes. The pathways of vitamin B6 metabolic and folate biosynthesis were decreased, while selenocompound metabolism was increased in the three groups. Specifically, the secondary bile acid (BA) metabolic pathway was enriched in Group A. Antibiotic resistance genes were common among the three groups. Conclusively, the gut microbiota was related to the health outcomes of COVID‐19. Dietary supplementations (SCFAs, BA, selenium, folate, vitamin B6) may be beneficial to COVID‐19 patients.
