GUT BACTERIAL DYSBIOSIS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH COVID-19 PATIENTS

Authors

  • Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq 1Department of Pathobiology and biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan.
  • Riffat Yasin Department of Zoology University of Education Lahore, D.G. Khan Campus Pakistan
  • Rabiya Naz Department of Life and Health Sciences, Muslim Youth University Islamabad
  • Rao Zahid Abbas Department pf Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Pakistan.
  • Umair Iqbal Department of Pathobiology and biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan.
  • Naheed Bano Department of Zoology Wild Life and Fisheries, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan.
  • Samar Wafa Kabir Department of clinical sciences , Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan
  • Imran Ahmad Khan Department of pharmacy, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan
  • Khizer Smiullah Department of Zoology. Ghazi University, D.G Khan. Pakistan
  • Muhammad Shahzad

Abstract

Background: SARS-CoV-2 causes the contagious COVID-19 disease in humans, manifested with respiratory signs and symptoms. The gut microbiota is vital to human health and disease. This research aimed to characterize the composition of intestinal bacteria in COVID-19 patients. Methods: A total of 20 fecal samples were collected: 10 from patients with COVID-19 and 10 from healthy controls. PCR-DGGE was employed, targeting the V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene. qPCR was also done to quantify the important bacteria. HiSeq2500 Illumina-based High-throughput sequencing was also performed on all samples of two groups. Results: Intestinal microbial diversity results by PCR-DGGE and High-throughput sequencing illustrated the significant dysbiosis between the experimental and control subjects. There was a significant raised abundance of phylum Proteobacteria, while Firmicutes decreased significantly in patients. Family stats showed a significant increase in the level of Prevotellacea, Enterobacteriaceae, and Bacteriaceae families, while significantly lower profusion of Ruminococcaceae, Streptococcaceae, Veillonellaceae, and Lcto bacillaceae was detected in COVID-19 group. Compared to the control, significantly higher abundant genera Bacteroides, Prevotella-9 and Escherichia-Shigella, and lower abundance of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Ruminococcus_2 were found in the experimentation group. In addition, species findings exhibited a significant rise in Prevotella copri, Bacteroides vulgatus, and Escherichia coli in the COVID-19 group. Conclusion: The results of intestinal microbial dysbiosis investigations in COVID-19 patients could provide new understandings of probiotic development, pathogenesis, and COVID-19 treatment. 

Published

2026-07-08

How to Cite

1.
Ishaq HM, Riffat Yasin, Rabiya Naz, Rao Zahid Abbas, Umair Iqbal, Naheed Bano, et al. GUT BACTERIAL DYSBIOSIS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH COVID-19 PATIENTS. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 8 [cited 2026 Jul. 12];38(1). Available from: https://jamc.ayubmed.edu.pk/index.php/jamc/article/view/15352

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Hafiz Ishaq, Riffat Yasin, Rabiya Naz, Rao Zahid Abbas, Umair Iqbal, Naheed Bano, Samar Wafa Kabir, Imran Ahmad Khan, Khizer Smiullah, Muhammad Shahzad

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