Naso-oropharyngeal microbiome associated with COVI-19 in Ghanaian individuals

The association of oral microbiome with SARS-CoV-2 infections and disease progression has been documented in European, Asian, and American populations but, not in Africa. We conducted a study in Ghana to evaluate the naso-oropharyngeal microbiome in SARS-CoV-2 infected and non-infected persons, before and after vaccination. Pre-vaccinated SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative individuals differed significantly in microbial diversity, except where vaccination status was considered. Consistent with other studies, Prevotella and Atopobium were abundant in pre-vaccinated virus positive persons. Butyrate-producing microbes were in relatively high abundances in infected individuals and vaccinated persons. As these bacteria play significant roles in anti-inflammatory and immune responses, and reducing oxidative stress, their abundance suggest probable protective pathophysiological processes that would prevent severe disease outcomes in this population. We recommend expansion of microbiome-disease association studies across Africa to identify possible bacterial-mediated therapeutics for emerging infections.