Gut Fungi Excess Linked to Severe COVID Inflammation – Dodo Finance

Title: Imbalance of Fungi in the Gut may Contribute to Excessive Inflammation in Severe COVID-19 Cases, Study Finds

In a recent study published in Nature Immunology, researchers have discovered that an imbalance of fungi in the gut could potentially contribute to excessive inflammation in individuals with severe COVID-19 or long COVID. This finding sheds new light on the connection between gut health and the severity of the disease.

The study examined blood samples from 91 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and found that those with severe disease had elevated levels of a fungus, including the prominent Candida albicans. These elevated levels of gut fungi were also reflected in their faecal samples. The presence of these fungi has the potential to activate the immune system and induce long-lasting changes.

Further analysis revealed that severe COVID-19 patients produced four times more antibodies against gut fungi compared to individuals who had never tested positive for the virus. The researchers also observed that an increase in immune cells called neutrophils, which can trigger inflammation, was associated with elevated levels of antibodies against Candida albicans.

To further investigate the impact of Candida albicans on COVID-19, the researchers infected mice with the fungus and then with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The mice experienced heightened lung inflammation as compared to those infected with the virus alone. However, the researchers also noted that treatment with an antifungal drug reduced the number and activity of neutrophils, suggesting that antifungal treatment could provide relief to critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Additionally, the study revealed that COVID-19 patients with severe disease continued to have elevated levels of antibodies against Candida albicans even after recovering from the disease. This suggests a possible link to long COVID symptoms, emphasizing the need for further research to understand the relationship between gut fungi and COVID-19.

While it remains unclear whether changes in the mycobiota occur as a result of the disease or make individuals more susceptible to it, these findings open up the possibility of repurposing existing antifungal treatments to aid COVID-19 patients. However, more research is required to fully comprehend the mechanisms at play.

The discovery of this potential link between gut fungi and the severity of COVID-19 could pave the way for new treatment strategies and emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. Understanding the role of gut fungi in COVID-19 could prove crucial in managing and mitigating the impact of the disease on individuals worldwide.