Gut Microbial Dysbiosis and Its Correlation with Long COVID and ME/CFS Symptoms Among Patients in New York
Name: Genesis (Ga Young) Seo
School: Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Class of 2026; Varmus Global Scholar 2023
Mentor: Lawrence Purpura, MD, MPH, TM and Michael Yin, MD, MS
Abstract
Research Question: Do alterations of gut microbiome in patients with Long COVID and ME/CFS suggest similar pathogenesis?
Background: Overlapping symptoms of Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) have suggested links in pathogenesis. Notably, gut dysbiosis in ME/CFS patients has involved reduction in butyrate and propionate-producing microbes. Decrease in microbial diversity seen with increased severity of ME/CFS and Long COVID elicited further research.
Methods: First 42 patients recruited for CPIC underwent preliminary analysis. They were classified based on their symptoms and rectal swabs were collected. Microbial DNA extraction was performed through Zymo MagBead DNA/RNA kit and was sequenced through Illumina MiSeq 16S.
Results: Decreased alpha diversity (Chao1 and Shannon) was associated in participants with neurocognitive symptoms. As the severity of acute COVID symptoms increased from mild to severe, alpha diversity decreased further. Multiple differing species abundance was seen through the volcano plot. In the assessment of differential abundance, short chain fatty acid-producing species were reduced. Butyrate-producing species (F. prausnitzii and E. halii) and propionate-producing species (A. municiphilla) were significantly reduced.
Conclusions: Decrease in short chain fatty acid-producing species suggests similar microbial pathogenesis of Long COVID and neurocognitive conditions, as deficiency in butyrate and propionate-producing species has been found to correlate with the symptoms of ME/CFS. Reduction of F. prausnitzii, E. halii, and A. municiphilla may indicate a species-level link with the ME/CFS symptoms frequently observed in patients with Long COVID. Bigger sample is needed for statistical power.