Microbiota and COVID-19: A Novel Diagnostic Approach to Health and Diseases

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease caused by a novel virus, SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19-infected people have high chance of altered microbiota in various regions of the human body, such as gut, oral, and respiratory pathways. In one such case, gastrointestinal symptoms are mostly caused by disturbances in gut microbiota. The gut microbiota shows magnificent changes in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The impairment of microbiota levels in humans can lead to various neurological diseases. Here, in the present chapter, we have discussed the probable mechanistic approaches of SARS-CoV-2 infection altering microbiota present in the gut, oral, and respiratory regions, thereby leading to neurological diseases – Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and depression mediated by inflammatory cytokines. We conclude that although there are many underpinnings in the current knowledge on the mechanism of COVID-19- related microbiota disturbance, it can be speculated that these mechanistic approaches may be more than just a coincidence. We advise conducting extensive epidemiologic investigations to create diagnostic and therapeutic options in the future.