Gut microbiota and Covid-19- possible link and implications - PubMed (original) (raw)

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Gut microbiota and Covid-19- possible link and implications

Debojyoti Dhar et al. Virus Res. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Covid-19 is a major pandemic facing the world today caused by SARS-CoV-2 which has implications on our understanding of infectious diseases. Although, SARS-Cov-2 primarily causes lung infection through binding of ACE2 receptors present on the alveolar epithelial cells, yet it was recently reported that SARS-CoV-2 RNA was found in the faeces of infected patients. Interestingly, the intestinal epithelial cells particularly the enterocytes of the small intestine also express ACE2 receptors. Role of the gut microbiota in influencing lung diseases has been well articulated. It is also known that respiratory virus infection causes perturbations in the gut microbiota. Diet, environmental factors and genetics play an important role in shaping gut microbiota which can influence immunity. Gut microbiota diversity is decreased in old age and Covid-19 has been mainly fatal in elderly patients which again points to the role the gut microbiota may play in this disease. Improving gut microbiota profile by personalized nutrition and supplementation known to improve immunity can be one of the prophylactic ways by which the impact of this disease can be minimized in old people and immune-compromised patients. More trials may be initiated to see the effect of co-supplementation of personalized functional food including prebiotics/probiotics along with current therapies.

Keywords: Covid-19; Diet; Dysbiosis; Gut microbiome; Immunity; Lung microbiota; SARS-CoV-2.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Figures

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Possible role of the gut microbiota in modulating immune response in Covid-19. Gut microbiota can influence immune response thereby affecting the disease progression. Both over-active and under active immune response possibly mediated by the gut microbiota can lead to serious clinical adverse events

Fig. 2

Fig. 2

Personalized nutritional strategies as prophylaxis and in treatment supplementation. Personalized nutritional strategies may be adopted for the Covid-19 vulnerable sections both as prophylaxis and supplementation to current treatment modalities.

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