The correlation between gut microbiota and the severity of COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel respiratory infectious disease and caused by SARS-CoV-2. Several studies have reported that the gut microbiota composition is significantly altered in patients with COVID-19. Long COVID, also known as 'post-acute sequelae of COVID-19', is chronic conditions that includes severe symptoms following a SARS-CoV-2 infection. The gut contains more than 70% of all immune cells, and the gut microbiota plays an important role in the development of adequate immune function. The dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is correlated with the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. To investigate the correlation between gut microbiota and the severity of long COVID symptoms, we conducted experiments by comparing the gut microbiota of people without long COVID and with experiencing long COVID. Employing a 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing methodology, we comprehensively characterized the gut microbiomes to delineate the microbial landscape alterations associated with symptoms of long COVID.