Key Points:
- Researchers found acute COVID-19 infection disrupts a healthy microbe gut balance.
- Antibiotics given during COVID-19 treatment appear to exacerbate gut imbalance.
- This research may lead to the development of probiotic supplements to redress gut imbalances in future patients.
Rutgers scientists have discovered that the COVID-19 virus may have a profound effect on patients’ microbiome. The study, published in Molecular Biomedicine, found that acute infection disrupts a healthy balance between good and bad microbes in the gut, especially with antibiotic treatment.
In May 2020, researchers reported the first results of an ongoing study examining the microbiome of patients and volunteers at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. They wanted to zero-in on the microbiome since many COVID-19 sufferers complained of gastrointestinal issues both during the acute phase of their illness and while recuperating.
“We wanted to gain a deeper understanding by looking at specimens that would give us an indication about the state of the gut microbiome in people,” said Martin Blaser, the Henry Rutgers Chair of the Human Microbiome at Rutgers University. “What we found was that, while there were differences between people who had COVID-19 and those who were not ill, the biggest difference from others was seen in those who had been administered antibiotics.”
In the study, scientists meaured populations of microorganisms in stool samples taken from 60 subjects (20 COVID-19 patients, 20 healthy donors and 20 COVID-19-recovered subjects).They found major differences in the population numbers of 55 different species of bacteria when comparing the microbiomes of infected patients with the healthy and recovered patients.
The Rutgers scientists plan to continue to test and track the microbiomes of patients in the study to ascertain the long-term effect on individual microbiomes from COVID-19.
“Further investigation of patients will enhance understanding of the role of the gut microbiome in COVID-19 disease progression and recovery,” Blaser said. “These findings may help identify microbial targets and probiotic supplements for improving COVID-19 treatment."