Gut Microbes (Dec 2023)

Gut microbiota from patients with COVID-19 cause alterations in mice that resemble post-COVID symptoms

  • Viviani Mendes de Almeida,
  • Daiane F. Engel,
  • Mayra F. Ricci,
  • Clênio Silva Cruz,
  • Ícaro Santos Lopes,
  • Daniele Almeida Alves,
  • Mirna d’ Auriol,
  • João Magalhães,
  • Elayne C. Machado,
  • Victor M. Rocha,
  • Toniana G. Carvalho,
  • Larisse S. B. Lacerda,
  • Jordane C. Pimenta,
  • Mariana Aganetti,
  • Giuliana S. Zuccoli,
  • Bradley J. Smith,
  • Victor C. Carregari,
  • Erika da Silva Rosa,
  • Izabela Galvão,
  • Geovanni Dantas Cassali,
  • Cristiana C. Garcia,
  • Mauro Martins Teixeira,
  • Leiliane C. André,
  • Fabiola Mara Ribeiro,
  • Flaviano S. Martins,
  • Rafael Simone Saia,
  • Vivian Vasconcelos Costa,
  • Daniel Martins-de-Souza,
  • Philip M. Hansbro,
  • João Trindade Marques,
  • Eric R. G. R. Aguiar,
  • Angélica T. Vieira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2023.2249146
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 2

Abstract

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ABSTRACTLong-term sequelae of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 are frequent and of major concern. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection affects the host gut microbiota, which is linked to disease severity in patients with COVID-19. Here, we report that the gut microbiota of post-COVID subjects had a remarkable predominance of Enterobacteriaceae strains with an antibiotic-resistant phenotype compared to healthy controls. Additionally, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels were reduced in feces. Fecal transplantation from post-COVID subjects to germ-free mice led to lung inflammation and worse outcomes during pulmonary infection by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. transplanted mice also exhibited poor cognitive performance. Overall, we show prolonged impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the gut microbiota that persist after subjects have cleared the virus. Together, these data demonstrate that the gut microbiota can directly contribute to post-COVID sequelae, suggesting that it may be a potential therapeutic target.

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