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Xiao et al. Microbiome Res Rep 2024;3:7 Microbiome Research
DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2023.48
Reports

Review Open Access

Impact of SARS-CoV2 infection on gut microbiota
dysbiosis

1
1
1
Zhenming Xiao , Miaomiao Pan , Xinyao Li , Chao Zhao 1,2
1
Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College & National Clinical
Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032,
China.
2
Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microbes and Infection, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center, Shanghai 200032,
China.
Correspondence to: Dr. Chao Zhao, Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai
Medical College & National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College,
Fudan University, Dong’an Road 130, Shanghai 200032, China. E-mail: czhao@fudan.edu.cn
How to cite this article: Xiao Z, Pan M, Li X, Zhao C. Impact of SARS-CoV2 infection on gut microbiota dysbiosis. Microbiome Res
Rep 2024;3:7. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/mrr.2023.48

Received: 17 Aug 2023 First Decision: 26 Oct 2023 Revised: 12 Nov 2023 Accepted: 28 Nov 2023 Published: 6 Dec 2023
Academic Editor: Marco Ventura Copy Editor: Pei-Yun Wang Production Editor: Pei-Yun Wang

Abstract
The composition and function of the gut microbiota constantly influence health. Disruptions in this delicate
balance, termed gut microbiota dysbiosis, have been implicated in various adverse health events. As the largest
global epidemic since 1918, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) had devastating
consequences. While the primary impact of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been on the respiratory
system, a growing body of research has unveiled the significant involvement of the gastrointestinal tract as well.
Emerging evidence underscores notable alterations in the gut microbiome of COVID-19 patients. In addition, the
gut microbiome is also characterized by an abundance of opportunistic pathogens, which is related to disease
manifestations of COVID-19 patients. The intricate bidirectional interaction between the respiratory mucosa and
the gut microbiota, known as the gut-lung axis, emerges as a crucial player in the pathological immune response
triggered by SARS-CoV-2. Here, we discuss microbiota-based gut characteristics of COVID-19 patients and the
long-term consequences of gut microbiota dysregulation. These insights could potentially transform the
development of long-term interventions for COVID-19, offering hope for improved outcomes and enhanced patient
recovery.

Keywords: COVID-19, gut microbiome, gut-lung axis, inflammation, immunity

© The Author(s) 2023. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, sharing,
adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as
long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and
indicate if changes were made.

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