Role of gut-lung microbiome crosstalk in COVID-19

PURPOSE: Gut microbiota are able to generate metabolites that can alter the function of immune cells and play a major role in health and disease. Understanding the changes in gut microbiome during infections including virus may help to use novel strategies in the therapeutic interventions. METHODS: We have reviewed recent reports on role of gut microbiome in lung infections and its possible importance in COVID-19. RESULTS: Most of the studies provide an insight into the possible role of gut microbes during lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, and other respiratory problems such as allergy and asthma. However, clinical evidence underlying gut-lung crosstalk during respiratory viral infections is limited. CONCLUSION: This review provides an overview of the role of the gut microbiome during respiratory viral infections mainly focused on COVID-19 and possible evidence for its crosstalk targeting as new therapeutics.