Gut microbiota may play role in COVID-19 severity
Coronavirus patients lack bacteria known to regulate the immune system, researchers sayÂ
The gut microbiome may influence the severity of COVID-19 as well as the magnitude of the immune response to the infection, according to a study.
Researcher Dr Siew Ng of the Chinese University of Hong Kong says the findings show the composition of gut microbiota in COVID-19 patients is different from uninfected individuals, and links to disease severity.
“COVID patients lack certain good bacteria known to regulate our immune system,” she says.
“The abnormal gut microbiota (dysbiosis) in COVID-19 patients persists after clearance of the virus.
