Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42717375›Full record

ReviewGut pathogens2026

Microbiome dysbiosis in long COVID: a scoping review of mechanistic insights, symptom associations, and therapeutic targets.

Leonardo Cano-Cevallos, Gabriela Patiño-Aveiga, Alice Gaibor-Pazmiño, Esteban Ortiz-Prado, Juan S Izquierdo-Condoy

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Gut pathogens, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Leonardo Cano-CevallosOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador.
Gabriela Patiño-AveigaOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador.
Alice Gaibor-PazmiñoOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador.
Esteban Ortiz-PradoOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador.
Juan S Izquierdo-CondoyOne Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Americas, Quito, Ecuador. juan1izquierdo11@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe human microbiome, particularly the gut microbiome, plays a critical role in host immunity, metabolism, and barrier function. Emerging evidence suggests that persistent alterations in microbiome composition-termed dysbiosis-may contribute to the development and symptom persistence of Long COVID.

aimsTo map the available literature on microbiome dysbiosis in relation to Long COVID, identify key microbial alterations, associated symptoms, and evaluate potential microbiome-targeted interventions. MATERIALS AND

methodsThe scoping review followed Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological guidance and was reported according to PRISMA-ScR. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted for studies published from January 2000 to May 2025. Eligible studies included human subjects with a clinical diagnosis of Long COVID and microbiome-related outcomes. Data was charted using a standardized form and synthesized narratively and descriptively.

resultsA total of 62 sources were included, most of which were narrative, conceptual, or descriptive in nature. The available literature most frequently discussed gut microbiome dysbiosis in relation to Long COVID, including reduced abundance of beneficial taxa such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and increased abundance of opportunistic or pro-inflammatory taxa such as Ruminococcus gnavus and Clostridium innocuum. Reported or proposed associations involved fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms, neuropsychiatric manifestations, and immune dysregulation. Evidence from respiratory and oral microbiomes was more limited. Microbiome-targeted interventions, including probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, diet, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), were mainly proposed or discussed, with limited direct interventional evidence.

conclusionsCurrent evidence suggests that microbiome alterations may be associated with Long COVID, but the available literature remains largely descriptive, observational, and hypothesis-generating. Further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to clarify causality and determine whether microbiome-targeted strategies have therapeutic value.

Indexed as

DysbiosisGut microbiomeLong COVIDPost-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC)SARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID42717375
PMCPMC13555989

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.