The Relationship Between Pediatric Gut Microbiota and SARS-CoV-2 Infection

• DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.908492
• Publication Date: 2022-07-08T03:28:59Z
• Authors: Lorenza Romani; Federica Del Chie...; Gabriele Macari; Stefania Pane; Maria Vittoria Ri...; Valerio Guarrasi; Simone Gardini; Giuseppe Rubens P...; Nicola Cotugno; Carlo Federico Perno; Paolo Rossi; Alberto Villani; Stefania Bernardi; Andrea Campana; Paolo Palma; Lorenza Putignani
• Keywords: Ruminococcus; Veillonella; Prevotella; Akkermansia; Fusobacteria

This is the first study on gut microbiota (GM) in children affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Stool samples from 88 patients with suspected severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and 95 healthy subjects were collected (admission: 3–7 days, discharge) to GM profile 16S rRNA gene sequencing relationship severity. The group was divided COVID-19 (68), Non–COVID-19 (16), MIS-C (multisystem inflammatory children) (4). Correlations among ecology, predicted functions, multiple machine learning (ML) models, response provided for cohorts. of cohort resulted as dysbiotic, lowest α-diversity compared CTRLs a specific β-diversity. Its appeared enriched Faecalibacterium , Fusobacterium Neisseria reduced Bifidobacterium Blautia Ruminococcus Collinsella Coprococcus Eggerthella Akkermansia ( p < 0.05). All paired-comparisons disclosed comparable results through all time points. comparison between cohorts highlighted reduction Abiotrophia characterized an increase Veillonella Clostridium Dialister Streptococcus decrease Granulicatella Prevotella CTRLs. Stratifying severity, associated “moderate” lower “mild” “asymptomatic” deprived Lachnospira Acidaminococcus Oscillospora Alistipes Bacteroides. ML models identified Staphylococcus Anaerostipes Dorea Roseburia Haemophilus Gemmiger Corynebacterium Bilophila Phascolarctobacterium Oscillospira microbial markers COVID-19. KEGG ortholog (KO)–based prediction functional 28 39 KO-associated pathways CTRLs, respectively. Finally, Bacteroides Sutterella correlated proinflammatory cytokines regardless Unlike adult profiles, marker pediatric GM. durable modification patients’ suggested prompt quenching SARS-CoV-2 since symptoms. fatty acid amino degradation proposed traits, possibly restrained severity SARS-CoV-2–infected children. Altogether, this evidence provides characterization COVID-19–related