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Review
. 2021 Jul;36(3):266-277.
doi: 10.1007/s12291-020-00948-9. Epub 2021 Jan 21.

COVID-19 and Gut Microbiota: A Potential Connection

Swati Rajput  1 , Deepanshu Paliwal  1 , Manisha Naithani  1 , Aashish Kothari  2 , Kiran Meena  1 , Satyavati Rana  1
Affiliations
Review

COVID-19 and Gut Microbiota: A Potential Connection

Swati Rajput et al. Indian J Clin Biochem. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Currently, world is facing a global outbreak causing a pandemic threat known as COVID-19. This infectious disease is triggered by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Gut microbiota harbours multi species community with a strong impact on host immune homeostasis. However, our knowledge about this gut microbiota and its symbiotic relationship with immune activation in association with SARS-CoV-2 is limited. Unbalanced bacterial flora with too many opportunistic infections can shift immune system towards a cascade of inflammatory responses leading to multi organ damage. This review will highlight immune-regulation via various mechanisms in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Diet has an unbelievable influence on gut microbiome that allows a new state of homeostasis to be reached through timing, frequency and duration of intake. This review article focuses on gut, lung microbiota and immunomodulation with specific attention on immune activation by gut microbiota.

Keywords: Immune system; Microbiota; Probiotic; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Shows the gut lung axis. Gut microbiota activates the immune cells enhancing the lung immune activation
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Shows the role of gut microbiota in triggering cascade of inflammatory reactions in response to the SARS-CoV- 2 leading to resolution of viral infection
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Shows that how the healthy gut microbiota is able to control the lung infection by SARS-CoV-2 by producing large number of immune cells as compared to a smaller number of immune cells by dysbiosis in gut microbiota
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Shows the series of events that might be responsible for an increased damage to the lungs causing immunological imbalance without involvement of gut microbiota
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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