Assessment of the human upper respiratory tract microbiota in patients affected by Covid-19
The study in question addresses the importance of the microbiota in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to understand the role of this microbial community in the human body and its influence on the interaction between viruses, microbiota, and the human host. The research involved the participation of 47 volunteers, divided into two groups: Positive (GP), consisting of 17 infected patients, and Negative (GN), formed by 30 uninfected individuals. Stratification by biological sex was performed to ensure sample homogeneity.Sample collection was conducted using swabs from the nasopharynx and oropharynx, followed by the extraction and storage of total DNA. Sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was performed, employing bioinformatics tools to assess the composition and diversity of the respiratory microbiota.The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interaction between the virus, microbiota, and the host during SARS-CoV-2 infection. The importance of the respiratory microbiota in the context of COVID-19 is highlighted, providing valuable insights for understanding health and developing more effective therapeutic strategies.