COVID-19 Induces Lasting Gut Microbiome Alterations
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has been linked to long-term health implications beyond acute illness, including post- COVID-19 condition. Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in infection severity and recovery, potentially serving as a therapeutic target. Here, we conducted a longitudinal study in mice to investigate microbiome changes following infection. Mice were infected with mouse adapted SARS-CoV-2, and fecal microbiome composition was assessed up to 21 days post-infection, with mock-infected controls for comparison. Our findings suggest that viral infection can induce persistent microbiome alterations that have the potential to contribute to long-term health effects.