Microbiome dysbiosis in SARS-CoV-2 infection: implication for pathophysiology and management strategies of COVID-19

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in late 2019 initiated a global health crisis marked by widespread infection, significant mortality, and long-term health implications. While SARS-CoV-2 primar...

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Main Authors: Shukur Wasman Smail, Niaz Albarzinji, Rebaz Hamza Salih, Kalthum Othman Taha, Sarah Mousa Hirmiz, Hero M. Ismael, Marwa Fateh Noori, Sarkar Sardar Azeez, Christer Janson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1537456/full
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author Shukur Wasman Smail
Shukur Wasman Smail
Niaz Albarzinji
Rebaz Hamza Salih
Kalthum Othman Taha
Sarah Mousa Hirmiz
Hero M. Ismael
Marwa Fateh Noori
Sarkar Sardar Azeez
Christer Janson
author_facet Shukur Wasman Smail
Shukur Wasman Smail
Niaz Albarzinji
Rebaz Hamza Salih
Kalthum Othman Taha
Sarah Mousa Hirmiz
Hero M. Ismael
Marwa Fateh Noori
Sarkar Sardar Azeez
Christer Janson
author_sort Shukur Wasman Smail
collection DOAJ
description The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in late 2019 initiated a global health crisis marked by widespread infection, significant mortality, and long-term health implications. While SARS-CoV-2 primarily targets the respiratory system, recent findings indicate that it also significantly disrupts the human microbiome, particularly the gut microbiota, contributing to disease severity, systemic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and increased susceptibility to secondary infections and chronic conditions. Dysbiosis, or microbial imbalance, exacerbates the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 and has been linked to long-COVID, a condition affecting a significant proportion of survivors and manifesting with over 200 symptoms across multiple organ systems. Despite the growing recognition of microbiome alterations in COVID-19, the precise mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the microbiome and influences disease progression remain poorly understood. This narrative review investigates the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on host-microbiota dynamics and evaluates its implications in disease severity and for developing personalized therapeutic strategies for COVID-19. Furthermore, it highlights the dual role of the microbiome in modulating disease progression, and as a promising target for advancing diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches in managing COVID-19.
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spelling doaj-art-84cdfc1ce2ba4ab19221dbb6298b43652025-08-20T02:18:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-04-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.15374561537456Microbiome dysbiosis in SARS-CoV-2 infection: implication for pathophysiology and management strategies of COVID-19Shukur Wasman Smail0Shukur Wasman Smail1Niaz Albarzinji2Rebaz Hamza Salih3Kalthum Othman Taha4Sarah Mousa Hirmiz5Hero M. Ismael6Marwa Fateh Noori7Sarkar Sardar Azeez8Christer Janson9College of Pharmacy, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, IraqDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, IraqCollege of Medicine, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, IraqDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, PAR Private Hospital, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, IraqDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, IraqDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, IraqDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, IraqCollege of Pharmacy, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, IraqDepartment of Medical Laboratory Technology, Soran Technical College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, IraqDepartment of Medical Science, Respiratory Medicine, and Allergology, Uppsala University and University Hospital, Uppsala, SwedenThe emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in late 2019 initiated a global health crisis marked by widespread infection, significant mortality, and long-term health implications. While SARS-CoV-2 primarily targets the respiratory system, recent findings indicate that it also significantly disrupts the human microbiome, particularly the gut microbiota, contributing to disease severity, systemic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and increased susceptibility to secondary infections and chronic conditions. Dysbiosis, or microbial imbalance, exacerbates the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 and has been linked to long-COVID, a condition affecting a significant proportion of survivors and manifesting with over 200 symptoms across multiple organ systems. Despite the growing recognition of microbiome alterations in COVID-19, the precise mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the microbiome and influences disease progression remain poorly understood. This narrative review investigates the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on host-microbiota dynamics and evaluates its implications in disease severity and for developing personalized therapeutic strategies for COVID-19. Furthermore, it highlights the dual role of the microbiome in modulating disease progression, and as a promising target for advancing diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches in managing COVID-19.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1537456/fullCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2gut microbiotadysbiosisprognosisdiagnosis
spellingShingle Shukur Wasman Smail
Shukur Wasman Smail
Niaz Albarzinji
Rebaz Hamza Salih
Kalthum Othman Taha
Sarah Mousa Hirmiz
Hero M. Ismael
Marwa Fateh Noori
Sarkar Sardar Azeez
Christer Janson
Microbiome dysbiosis in SARS-CoV-2 infection: implication for pathophysiology and management strategies of COVID-19
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
gut microbiota
dysbiosis
prognosis
diagnosis
title Microbiome dysbiosis in SARS-CoV-2 infection: implication for pathophysiology and management strategies of COVID-19
title_full Microbiome dysbiosis in SARS-CoV-2 infection: implication for pathophysiology and management strategies of COVID-19
title_fullStr Microbiome dysbiosis in SARS-CoV-2 infection: implication for pathophysiology and management strategies of COVID-19
title_full_unstemmed Microbiome dysbiosis in SARS-CoV-2 infection: implication for pathophysiology and management strategies of COVID-19
title_short Microbiome dysbiosis in SARS-CoV-2 infection: implication for pathophysiology and management strategies of COVID-19
title_sort microbiome dysbiosis in sars cov 2 infection implication for pathophysiology and management strategies of covid 19
topic COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
gut microbiota
dysbiosis
prognosis
diagnosis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1537456/full
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