Gut reaction: How the gut microbiome may influence the severity of COVID-19
Gut reaction: How the gut microbiome may influence the severity of COVID-19
By Shirin Moossavi
Postdoctoral Fellow, International Microbiome Centre, University of Calgary
By Marie-Claire Arrieta
Assistant Professor, Physiology, Pharmacology and Pediatrics, University of Calgary
The risk of severe COVID-19 infection is more common in those with high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, conditions that are all associated with changes to the composition of the gut microbiome — the community of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in the intestines. This raises the question of whether the gut microbiome has a role in dictating COVID-19 severity.
Let’s recap what we know about COVID-19. COVID-19 is a new disease caused by a very contagious virus called SARS-CoV-2.
In most infected individuals, the virus does not cause serious illness. However, it causes a very serious respiratory disease — and even death — in a minority of patients. Through many studies of people with COVID-19 over the past few months, we have learned what characteristics are more likely to be linked to mild versus severe forms of the disease.
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