The relationship between gut and nasopharyngeal microbiome composition can predict the severity of COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that displays great variability in clinical phenotype. Many factors have been described to be correlated with its severity, and microbiota could play a key role in the infection, progression, and outcome of the disease. SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with nasopharyngeal and gut dysbiosis and higher abundance of opportunistic pathogens. To identify new prognostic markers for the disease, a multicentre prospective observational cohort study was carried out in COVID-19 patients divided into three cohorts based on symptomatology: mild (n = 24), moderate (n = 51), and severe/critical (n = 31). Faecal and nasopharyngeal samples were taken, and the microbiota was analysed. Linear discriminant analysis identified Mycoplasma salivarium , Prevotella dentalis , and Haemophilus parainfluenzae as biomarkers of severe COVID-19 in nasopharyngeal microbiota, while Prevotella bivia and Prevotella timonensis were defined in faecal microbiota. Additionally, a connection between faecal and nasopharyngeal microbiota was identified, with a significant ratio between P. timonensis (faeces) and P. dentalis and M. salivarium (nasopharyngeal) abundances found in critically ill patients. This ratio could serve as a novel prognostic tool for identifying severe COVID-19 cases.
Authors
- Maria Elena Rodríguez‐Cabezas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9085-8147)
- Rocío Morón (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4461-2247)
- María Angélica Bravo Núñez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6554-8814)
- María Jesús Rodríguez‐Sojo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1693-505X)
- Laura Hidalgo‐Garcia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5529-171X)
- Paula García‐Flores (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4326-7173)
- Marta Álvarez-Estévez
- Féderico García (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7611-781X)
- Patricia Diez‐Echave (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4493-3091)
- Alba Rodríguez‐Nogales (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1927-0628)
- Antonio Jesús Ruiz‐Malagón (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4323-650X)
- José Alberto Molina‐Tijeras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1554-9226)
- Benita Martín-Castaño
- Xando Díaz-Villamarín (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0849-9902)
- Anaïs Redruello-Romero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0313-8649)
- Concepción Morales-García (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0105-9891)
- Jorge García-García (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0925-9441)
- Javier J. Martin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2202-0622)
- Manuel Colmenero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5005-1154)
- Silvia Merlos
- Fernando Cobo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9203-9628)
- Júlio Gálvez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6876-3782)
- Margarita Martínez-Zaldívar
- José Hernández‐Quero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9965-8763)
- Ángel Carazo
- Emilio Mota
Institutions
- Universidad de Granada (ES)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ES)
- Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves (ES)
- Parque Tecnológico de la Salud (ES)
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López - Neyra" (ES)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- eLife
- Published
- 2025-02-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.95292.3
- Primary Topic
- Gut microbiota and health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Junta de Andalucía