Association of Intestinal Dysbiosis with Clinical Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients

illustration of intestinal bacteria

Antibiotic treatments of COVID-19 complications caused by real or suspected bacterial super-infections may decrease adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and increase adverse immune responses through its disruptive effects on intestinal microorganisms.

Led by Alexander Khoruts, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, researchers in this study will collect fecal swabs from hospitalized COVID-19 patients to characterize:

  • bacterial diversity
  • identity and classification of microorganisms
  • presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA

These data will be used in the design of an interventional clinical trial.

“Our program is the world leader in development of restorative microorganism therapeutics,” said Khoruts. “Therefore, we are in a unique position to develop clinical trials that can mitigate untoward effects of antibiotics in immune response.”

This project is supported by the UMN Campus Public Health Officer's CO:VID (Collaborative Outcomes: Visionary Innovation & Discovery) grants program, which support University of Minnesota faculty to catalyze and energize small-scale research projects designed to address and mitigate the COVID-19 virus and its associated risks.