Bacterial Biomarkers of the Oropharyngeal and Oral Cavity during SARS-CoV-2 Infection
(1) Background: Individuals with COVID-19 display different forms of disease severity and the upper respiratory tract microbiome has been suggested to play a crucial role in the development of its symptoms. (2) Methods: The present study analyzed the microbial profiles of the oral cavity and orophar...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/11/2703 |
| Summary: | (1) Background: Individuals with COVID-19 display different forms of disease severity and the upper respiratory tract microbiome has been suggested to play a crucial role in the development of its symptoms. (2) Methods: The present study analyzed the microbial profiles of the oral cavity and oropharynx of 182 COVID-19 patients compared to 75 unaffected individuals. The samples were obtained from gargle screening samples. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was applied to analyze the samples. (3) Results: The present study shows that SARS-CoV-2 infection induced significant differences in bacterial community assemblages, with <i>Prevotella</i> and <i>Veillonella</i> as biomarkers for positive-tested people and <i>Streptococcus</i> and <i>Actinomyces</i> for negative-tested people. It also suggests a state of dysbiosis on the part of the infected individuals due to significant differences in the bacterial community in favor of a microbiome richer in opportunistic pathogens. (4) Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection induces dysbiosis in the upper respiratory tract. The identification of these opportunistic pathogenic biomarkers could be a new screening and prevention tool for people with prior dysbiosis. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2076-2607 |