Biological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Resistant Populations by Integrated Gut Microbiota Sequencing, Metabolomics and Proteomics: A Cohort Comparison Study

Objective: Most research reports on COVID-19 infections have focused on the
correlation between the severity of the disease symptoms and immune deficits,
while the mechanisms affecting the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 remain largely
unknown. The study aimed to comprehensively analyze the differences in
immunity, gut microbiota, metabolism, and proteomics between the SARS-CoV-
2 resistant population and susceptible population.
Methods and results: In this cohort comparison study, participants were
rigorously selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria in a continuous
enrollment manner through continuous enrollment using combined
questionnaires and clinical data, ultimately including 25 SARS-CoV-2 resistant
volunteers versus 16 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. The clinical information
of the participants was recorded in detail, and fecal and blood samples were
collected in a standardized manner for subsequent multi omics analysis,
including gut microbiota sequencing, metabolomics, and proteomics. This
study has preliminarily elucidated the characteristics of the gut microbiota,
serum metabolites, and serum proteins in the SARS-CoV-2 resistant population.
It exhibits a unique metabolic signature characterized by elevated levels of
serum phosphatidylinositol and the abundance of Prevotella, which may serve
as a potential predictive biomarker for resistance to SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusion: Given the crucial role of phosphatidylinositol in cell membrane
architecture and viral infectivity, this study provides a promising entry point for
further research into the pathogenesis and prevention strategies of COVID-19.