Lactobacilli in COVID-19: A Systematic Review Based on Next-Generation Sequencing Studies
Clarissa Reginato Taufer, Pabulo Henrique Rampelotto
Microorganisms, doi:10.3390/microorganisms12020284
The global pandemic was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as COVID-19, which primarily affects the respiratory and intestinal systems and impacts the microbial communities of patients. This systematic review involved a comprehensive search across the major literature databases to explore the relationship between lactobacilli and COVID-19. Our emphasis was on investigations employing NGS technologies to explore this connection. Our analysis of nine selected studies revealed that lactobacilli have a reduced abundance in the disease and an association with disease severity. The protective mechanisms of lactobacilli in COVID-19 and other viral infections are likely to be multifaceted, involving complex interactions between the microbiota, the host immune system, and the virus itself. Moreover, upon closely examining the NGS methodologies and associated statistical analyses in each research study, we have noted concerns regarding the approach used to delineate the varying abundance of lactobacilli, which involves potential biases and the exclusion of pertinent data elements. These findings provide new insight into the relationship between COVID-19 and lactobacilli, highlighting the potential for microbiota modulation in COVID-19 treatment.
of lactobacilli in COVID-19 and other viral infections are expected to be multi-faceted, involving intricate interactions among the microbiome, the host immune system, and the virus. This combination of protective mechanisms, including direct antiviral effects, immunomodulation, and enhancement of mucosal immunity, makes this genus a promising avenue for interventions against viral infections, including COVID-19.
Supplementary Materials: The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https:// www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/microorganisms12020284/s1, Supplementary File S1: Search strategy; Supplementary File S2: PRISMA 2020 Checklist; Supplementary File S3: Data extracted from the selected articles. Author Contributions: C.R.T.: data collection, analysis of results, and writing (original draft); P.H.R.: conceptualization, supervision, analysis of results, and writing (revision). All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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