Authors: Chen Y, Gu S, Chen Y, Lu H, Shi D, Guo J
PMID: 33833065 PMCID: PMC8666823 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-324090
Abstract
We read with great interest the recent article published in Gut in which Yeoh et al demonstrated that gut microbiota composition of recovered patients with COVID-19 remained significantly distinct from uninfected controls. Persisting symptoms, also known as ‘long COVID-19’, have been reported in a significant proportion of patients following hospital discharge. Gut dysbiosis might link to long COVID-19 risks. Few studies have focused on the recovery process of gut microbiota following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Here, we conducted a prospective study to longitudinally monitor alterations of gut microbiota in patients with COVID-19 using 16S rDNA sequencing (detailed methods in online supplementary materials). Faecal microbiota was monitored at three timepoints, acute phase (from illness onset to viral clearance), convalescence (from viral clearance to 2 weeks after hospital discharge), postconvalescence (6 months after hospital discharge).
Keywords: COVID-19; intestinal microbiology.
