Changes in Probiotic Lachnospiraceae Genera Across Different Stages of COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis of 16S rRNA Microbial Data

The gut microbiome has emerged as a potential modulator of COVID-19 severity, and there is particular interest in the Lachnospiraceae family due to its role in maintaining gut homeostasis. This study presents a comprehensive meta-analysis of microbiome datasets from multiple investigations focused on gut microbiota across various stages of COVID-19. We used a standardized bioinformatics pipeline based on Mothur v.1.47.0 and the SILVA v.138 reference database to analyze 16S rRNA gene sequencing data targeting the V3-V4 regions. Our findings reveal consistent patterns of depletion in key Lachnospiraceae genera, particularly <i>Lachnospira</i> and <i>Roseburia</i>, correlating with increased COVID-19 severity. Complex patterns were observed for <i>Blautia</i> and <i>Coprococcus</i>, suggesting strain-specific responses to disease states. In addition, several unclassified Lachnospiraceae taxa showed differential abundance across severity levels, indicating the need for further characterization of these potentially important bacteria. These results provide robust evidence for the association between specific Lachnospiraceae genera and COVID-19 severity. The observed microbial shifts suggest potential mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis may contribute to COVID-19 pathogenesis, including reduced production of beneficial metabolites and compromised intestinal barrier function. These findings highlight the potential of Lachnospiraceae genera as biomarkers for COVID-19 severity and suggest avenues for developing targeted probiotic interventions in COVID-19 management.