Investigating the Role of Gut Microbiota in Pediatric Patients with Severe COVID-19 or MIS-C
Severe COVID-19 and MIS-C are rare but serious outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The onset of MIS-C often involves the gastrointestinal system, suggesting a potential connection with gut microbiota. This study aims to compare the gut microbiota of children with severe COVID-19 and those...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Elena Franchitti Paolo Bottino Francesca Sidoti Andrea Carpino Giulia Pruccoli Ugo Ramenghi Cristina Costa Ugo Ala Emilia Parodi Deborah Traversi |
| author_facet | Elena Franchitti Paolo Bottino Francesca Sidoti Andrea Carpino Giulia Pruccoli Ugo Ramenghi Cristina Costa Ugo Ala Emilia Parodi Deborah Traversi |
| author_sort | Elena Franchitti |
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| description | Severe COVID-19 and MIS-C are rare but serious outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The onset of MIS-C often involves the gastrointestinal system, suggesting a potential connection with gut microbiota. This study aims to compare the gut microbiota of children with severe COVID-19 and those with MIS-C using various biomolecular approaches. Gut microbiota composition and specific microbial modulations were analyzed using fecal samples collected at hospital admission. The study included hospitalized patients (mean age 6 ± 5 years) diagnosed with severe COVID-19 (37 patients) or MIS-C (37 patients). Microbial differences were assessed using both NGS and qRT-PCR methodologies. In 75% of cases, pharmacological treatments included antibiotics and corticosteroids, which influenced the microbiota composition. Early age was found to have the most significant impact on microbiota diversity. Significant differences in alpha and beta diversity were observed between COVID-19 and MIS-C patients, particularly concerning low-abundance species. Levels of <i>Bacteroides</i> spp., <i>Bifidobacterium</i> spp., and <i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i> were comparable between groups, while an increased activity of <i>Bifidobacterium</i> spp. was noted in children with positive fecal samples (<i>p</i> = 0.019). An in-depth evaluation of lesser-known gut species may be key to reducing the risk of severe outcomes and developing microbiota-based biomarkers for the early diagnosis of MIS-C. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a9455dffded4e5c8981c3c266651e3d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-3a9455dffded4e5c8981c3c266651e3d2025-01-24T13:42:35ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-01-011318310.3390/microorganisms13010083Investigating the Role of Gut Microbiota in Pediatric Patients with Severe COVID-19 or MIS-CElena Franchitti0Paolo Bottino1Francesca Sidoti2Andrea Carpino3Giulia Pruccoli4Ugo Ramenghi5Cristina Costa6Ugo Ala7Emilia Parodi8Deborah Traversi9Department of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, ItalyDivision of Virology, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria—Città Della Salute e Della Scienza, Corso Bramante 88, 10126 Torino, ItalyRegina Margherita Paediartic Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria—Città Della Salute e Della Scienza, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, ItalyRegina Margherita Paediartic Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria—Città Della Salute e Della Scienza, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, ItalyStruttura Complessa Pediatrica e Neonatologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Ordine Mauriziano Via Magellano 1, 10128 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Public Health and Paediatrics, University of Turin, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, ItalySevere COVID-19 and MIS-C are rare but serious outcomes associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The onset of MIS-C often involves the gastrointestinal system, suggesting a potential connection with gut microbiota. This study aims to compare the gut microbiota of children with severe COVID-19 and those with MIS-C using various biomolecular approaches. Gut microbiota composition and specific microbial modulations were analyzed using fecal samples collected at hospital admission. The study included hospitalized patients (mean age 6 ± 5 years) diagnosed with severe COVID-19 (37 patients) or MIS-C (37 patients). Microbial differences were assessed using both NGS and qRT-PCR methodologies. In 75% of cases, pharmacological treatments included antibiotics and corticosteroids, which influenced the microbiota composition. Early age was found to have the most significant impact on microbiota diversity. Significant differences in alpha and beta diversity were observed between COVID-19 and MIS-C patients, particularly concerning low-abundance species. Levels of <i>Bacteroides</i> spp., <i>Bifidobacterium</i> spp., and <i>Akkermansia muciniphila</i> were comparable between groups, while an increased activity of <i>Bifidobacterium</i> spp. was noted in children with positive fecal samples (<i>p</i> = 0.019). An in-depth evaluation of lesser-known gut species may be key to reducing the risk of severe outcomes and developing microbiota-based biomarkers for the early diagnosis of MIS-C.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/1/83SARS-CoV-2COVID-19MIS-Cchildrengut microbiotaqRT-PCR |
| spellingShingle | Elena Franchitti Paolo Bottino Francesca Sidoti Andrea Carpino Giulia Pruccoli Ugo Ramenghi Cristina Costa Ugo Ala Emilia Parodi Deborah Traversi Investigating the Role of Gut Microbiota in Pediatric Patients with Severe COVID-19 or MIS-C Microorganisms SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 MIS-C children gut microbiota qRT-PCR |
| title | Investigating the Role of Gut Microbiota in Pediatric Patients with Severe COVID-19 or MIS-C |
| title_full | Investigating the Role of Gut Microbiota in Pediatric Patients with Severe COVID-19 or MIS-C |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the Role of Gut Microbiota in Pediatric Patients with Severe COVID-19 or MIS-C |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the Role of Gut Microbiota in Pediatric Patients with Severe COVID-19 or MIS-C |
| title_short | Investigating the Role of Gut Microbiota in Pediatric Patients with Severe COVID-19 or MIS-C |
| title_sort | investigating the role of gut microbiota in pediatric patients with severe covid 19 or mis c |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 MIS-C children gut microbiota qRT-PCR |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/1/83 |
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