Abstract
COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has gained global attention. SARS-CoV-2 identifies and invades human cells via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, which is highly expressed both in lung tissues and intestinal epithelial cells. The existence of the gut-lung axis in disease could be profoundly important for both disease etiology and treatment. Furthermore, several studies reported that infected patients suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms. The gut microbiota has a noteworthy effect on the intestinal barrier and affects many aspects of human health, including immunity, metabolism, and the prevention of several diseases. This review highlights the function of the gut microbiota in the host's immune response, providing a novel potential strategy through the use of probiotics, gut microbiota metabolites, and dietary products to enhance the gut microbiota as a target for COVID-19 prevention and treatment.
Highlights
Emerging respiratory infectious diseases are among the top concerns and fascinations of both the public and scientific/medical communities [1]
The gut microbiota provides the human host with various biological functions, including metabolizing nutrients, maintaining the normal function of the intestinal mucosal barrier, and promoting immune system development [6]
Balance gut microbiota is associated to maintain systemic health that contributes to resistance to SARS-CoV-2 invasion
Summary
Emerging respiratory infectious diseases are among the top concerns and fascinations of both the public and scientific/medical communities [1]. It is supposed that the gut microbiota significantly regulates the growth and function of the innate and adaptive immune systems by influencing immune cells to activate anti-inflammatory responses and keep immune homeostasis, influencing the host’s susceptibility to different diseases [52, 53]. The generated SCFAs, such as butyric acid and propionic acid, are the most important metabolites with many microbials, which play a significant role for adjusting the intestinal mucosal immune block and keeping their common functions during respiratory tract infections [63]. This evidence demonstrated that dietary fiber could play a significant function in adjusting the gut microbiota further to regulate the intestinal barrier for virus infection and injury. In pathogenic SARS-CoV-2 infections, a healthy gut microbiota plays a significant role against lung infection and injury (Figure 3)
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