In humans the pandemic is showing signs of ebbing. In white-tailed deer and other wildlife, however, infections appear widespread. In 2020, Denmark culled millions of mink to quell a source of zoonotic COVID-19 transmission, the passage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus between humans and animals. Last year, zoo animals including lions, tigers, and gorillas got sickIn humans the pandemic is showing signs of ebbing. In white-tailed deer and other wildlife, however, infections appear widespread. In 2020, Denmark culled millions of mink to quell a source of zoonotic COVID-19 transmission, the passage of the SARS-CoV-2 virus between humans and animals. Last year, zoo animals including lions, tigers, and gorillas got sick » The FINANCIAL Coronavirus
Lung microbiome predicts COVID-19 disease severity
A new preprint research paper posted to the
medRxiv server found changes to the lung microbiome during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection influence COVID-19 disease severity. Led by Ronald G. Collman from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, they suggest a wide diversity in the microbiome is associated with less severe illness and the need for hospitalization.
Differences in the microbiome were observed in intubated patients who showed a higher prevalence for
Staphylococcus. Greater amounts of
The researchers write:
“We report profound dysbiosis of the respiratory tract bacterial and viral microbiome in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, which differs from that of non-COVID patients, exhibits accelerated destabilization over time, and associates with disease severity and systemic immune profiles.