Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on respiratory and gut microbiome stability: a metagenomic investigation in long-term-hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Abstract During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the exploration of microecology has been essential for elucidating the intricacies of infection mechanisms and the recovery of afflicted individuals. To decipher the interplay of microorganisms between the intestinal and respiratory t...

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Main Authors: Zhengtu Li, Jing Chen, Yinhu Li, Linghua Li, Yangqing Zhan, Jiasheng Yang, Huiqin Wu, Shaoqiang Li, Xiaoneng Mo, Xidong Wang, Yiqun Mi, Xi Zhou, Yongming Li, Jun Wang, Yuanxiang Li, Ruilin Sun, Weiping Cai, Feng Ye
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-024-00596-4
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author Zhengtu Li
Jing Chen
Yinhu Li
Linghua Li
Yangqing Zhan
Jiasheng Yang
Huiqin Wu
Shaoqiang Li
Xiaoneng Mo
Xidong Wang
Yiqun Mi
Xi Zhou
Yongming Li
Jun Wang
Yuanxiang Li
Ruilin Sun
Weiping Cai
Feng Ye
author_facet Zhengtu Li
Jing Chen
Yinhu Li
Linghua Li
Yangqing Zhan
Jiasheng Yang
Huiqin Wu
Shaoqiang Li
Xiaoneng Mo
Xidong Wang
Yiqun Mi
Xi Zhou
Yongming Li
Jun Wang
Yuanxiang Li
Ruilin Sun
Weiping Cai
Feng Ye
author_sort Zhengtu Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the exploration of microecology has been essential for elucidating the intricacies of infection mechanisms and the recovery of afflicted individuals. To decipher the interplay of microorganisms between the intestinal and respiratory tracts, we collected sputum and throat swabs and feces from COVID-19 patients and explored the mutual migration among intestinal and respiratory microorganisms. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, we investigated intestinal and respiratory microorganism intermigration in two patients with severe COVID-19 during their hospitalization. Notably, we observed an expedited recovery of microecological equilibrium in one patient harboring Mycobacterium avium. Comparative analyses between 32 healthy controls and 110 COVID-19 patients with different disease severities revealed alterations in predominant microorganisms inhabiting the respiratory and intestinal tracts of COVID-19 patients. Among the alterations, intestinal Bacteroides vulgatus (BV) was identified as a noteworthy microorganism that exhibited marked enrichment in patients with severe COVID-19. BV, when highly abundant, may inhibit the transitional growth of Escherichia coli/Enterococcus, indirectly prevent the overgrowth of salivary streptococci, and maintain lung/intestinal microecology stability. In summary, this study elucidates the bidirectional microbial intermigration between the intestinal and respiratory tracts in COVID-19 patients. These findings are expected to provide new ideas for the treatment and management of COVID-19, underscoring the essential role of microecology in infectious diseases. Nevertheless, a systematic study of the roles of BV in recovery from infection is required to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of microbial migration.
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spelling doaj-art-17ca1adee6f24656893f0cd1d6fd8b3c2024-11-17T12:12:44ZengNature Portfolionpj Biofilms and Microbiomes2055-50082024-11-0110111110.1038/s41522-024-00596-4Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on respiratory and gut microbiome stability: a metagenomic investigation in long-term-hospitalized COVID-19 patientsZhengtu Li0Jing Chen1Yinhu Li2Linghua Li3Yangqing Zhan4Jiasheng Yang5Huiqin Wu6Shaoqiang Li7Xiaoneng Mo8Xidong Wang9Yiqun Mi10Xi Zhou11Yongming Li12Jun Wang13Yuanxiang Li14Ruilin Sun15Weiping Cai16Feng Ye17State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Center for Respiratory MedicineHangzhou Matridx Biotechnology Co., LtdChinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Brain Diseases, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen–Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science–Shenzhen Fundamental Research InstitutionsGuangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityState Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Center for Respiratory MedicineDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Measurement and Emergency Test Technology, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Quality and Safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Analysis, Guangdong Academy of Sciences (China National Analytical Center, Guangzhou)State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Center for Respiratory MedicineGuangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityState Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Center for Respiratory MedicineHangzhou Matridx Biotechnology Co., LtdGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Measurement and Emergency Test Technology, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Quality and Safety of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Institute of Analysis, Guangdong Academy of Sciences (China National Analytical Center, Guangzhou)State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Center for Respiratory MedicineHangzhou Matridx Biotechnology Co., LtdState Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Center for Respiratory MedicineDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Guangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityState Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Center for Respiratory MedicineAbstract During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the exploration of microecology has been essential for elucidating the intricacies of infection mechanisms and the recovery of afflicted individuals. To decipher the interplay of microorganisms between the intestinal and respiratory tracts, we collected sputum and throat swabs and feces from COVID-19 patients and explored the mutual migration among intestinal and respiratory microorganisms. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, we investigated intestinal and respiratory microorganism intermigration in two patients with severe COVID-19 during their hospitalization. Notably, we observed an expedited recovery of microecological equilibrium in one patient harboring Mycobacterium avium. Comparative analyses between 32 healthy controls and 110 COVID-19 patients with different disease severities revealed alterations in predominant microorganisms inhabiting the respiratory and intestinal tracts of COVID-19 patients. Among the alterations, intestinal Bacteroides vulgatus (BV) was identified as a noteworthy microorganism that exhibited marked enrichment in patients with severe COVID-19. BV, when highly abundant, may inhibit the transitional growth of Escherichia coli/Enterococcus, indirectly prevent the overgrowth of salivary streptococci, and maintain lung/intestinal microecology stability. In summary, this study elucidates the bidirectional microbial intermigration between the intestinal and respiratory tracts in COVID-19 patients. These findings are expected to provide new ideas for the treatment and management of COVID-19, underscoring the essential role of microecology in infectious diseases. Nevertheless, a systematic study of the roles of BV in recovery from infection is required to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of microbial migration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-024-00596-4
spellingShingle Zhengtu Li
Jing Chen
Yinhu Li
Linghua Li
Yangqing Zhan
Jiasheng Yang
Huiqin Wu
Shaoqiang Li
Xiaoneng Mo
Xidong Wang
Yiqun Mi
Xi Zhou
Yongming Li
Jun Wang
Yuanxiang Li
Ruilin Sun
Weiping Cai
Feng Ye
Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on respiratory and gut microbiome stability: a metagenomic investigation in long-term-hospitalized COVID-19 patients
npj Biofilms and Microbiomes
title Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on respiratory and gut microbiome stability: a metagenomic investigation in long-term-hospitalized COVID-19 patients
title_full Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on respiratory and gut microbiome stability: a metagenomic investigation in long-term-hospitalized COVID-19 patients
title_fullStr Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on respiratory and gut microbiome stability: a metagenomic investigation in long-term-hospitalized COVID-19 patients
title_full_unstemmed Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on respiratory and gut microbiome stability: a metagenomic investigation in long-term-hospitalized COVID-19 patients
title_short Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on respiratory and gut microbiome stability: a metagenomic investigation in long-term-hospitalized COVID-19 patients
title_sort impact of sars cov 2 infection on respiratory and gut microbiome stability a metagenomic investigation in long term hospitalized covid 19 patients
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-024-00596-4
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