Role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in postacute COVID syndrome

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the infection of hundreds of millions of individuals over the past 3 years, coupled with millions of deaths. Along with these more acute impacts of infection, a large subset of patients has developed symptoms that collectively comprise postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC, also known as long COVID), which can persist for months and maybe even years. In this review, we outline the current knowledge on the role of impaired microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis signaling in the development of PASC and the potential mechanisms involved, which may lead to a better understanding of disease progression and treatment options in the future.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread infections and millions of deaths. In addition to the acute impacts, many patients have developed long-lasting symptoms known as postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). This review explores the role of impaired microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis signaling in the development of PASC and potential mechanisms, which could provide insights into disease progression and future treatment options.