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

  1. Viviani Mendes de Almeida
  2. Daiane F Engel
  3. Mayra Fernanda Ricci
  4. Clênio Silva Cruz
  5. Icaro Santos Lopes
  6. Daniele Almeida Alves
  7. Mirna d’ Auriol
  8. João Magalhães
  9. Giuliana S. Zuccoli
  10. Bradley Joseph Smith
  11. Victor Corasolla Carregari
  12. Elayne Cristina Machado
  13. Victor M. Rocha
  14. Toniana G. Carvalho
  15. Larisse de Souza Barbosa Lacerda
  16. Jordane C. Pimenta
  17. Izabela Galvão
  18. Mariana Aganetti Silva
  19. Erika da Silva Rosa
  20. Geovanni Dantas Cassali
  21. Cristiana C. Garcia
  22. Mauro Martins Teixeira
  23. Leiliane Coelho
  24. Fabiola Mara Ribeiro
  25. Flaviano S. Martins
  26. Rafael Simone Saia
  27. Vivian Vasconcelos Costa
  28. Daniel Martins-de-Souza
  29. João T. Marques
  30. Eric R. G. R. Aguiar
  31. Angelica T. Vieira

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Abstract

Long-term sequelae after Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 are frequent and of major concern. SARS-CoV-2 infection affects the host's gut microbiota, which is linked with disease severity in patients with COVID-19. We report here that the gut microbiota of post-COVID subjects had a remarkable predominance of Enterobacteriaceae strains with antibiotic-resistance phenotype compared to healthy controls. Additionally, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) levels were reduced in their feces. Fecal transplant from post-COVID subjects to germ-free mice led to lung inflammation and worst outcomes during pulmonary infection by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Transplanted mice also had poorer cognitive performance. Overall, we show prolonged impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 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.

Article activity feed

  1. Rapid Reviews Infectious Diseases

    Luis Vitetta

    Review 2: "Gut Microbiota from Patients with COVID-19 Cause Alterations in Mice that Resemble Post-COVID Symptoms"

    The reviewers found this study to be reliable and that its findings suggest interventions targeting gut microbiota may be a potential treatment for sequelae after COVID-19.

  2. Rapid Reviews Infectious Diseases

    Gucheng Zeng

    Review 1: "Gut Microbiota from Patients with COVID-19 Cause Alterations in Mice that Resemble Post-COVID Symptoms"

    The reviewers found this study to be reliable and that its findings suggest interventions targeting gut microbiota may be a potential treatment for sequelae after COVID-19.

  4. Published on Research Square

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