Characterization of the Intestinal Microbiome in Healthy Adults over Sars-Cov-2 Vaccination

Abstract

Background: In response to the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide, inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines are implemented. Dysbiosic gut microbiota is implicated in the COVID-19 patients. Whereas, how intestinal microbiota are affected by vaccination remains elusive, and it is important to investigate the microbial shifts during vaccines treatment. Methods: In the present study, we assessed the gut microbial composition in healthy adults, and performed comparison before and post an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate, BBIBP-CorV vaccination. Results: Microbial diversity in shannon, pielou evenness, simpson and invsimpson index was remarkably suppressed by vaccination. Ruminococcus and Actinomyces were observed to be strikingly deficient, and Faecalibacterium was dramatically augmented after BBIBP-CorV treatment. Potential functional profiles of gut microbiome in amino acid metabolism, lipid biosynthesis proteins and steroid biosynthesis were remarkably increased, while the capacity in renin-angiotensin system was remarkably decreased following vaccines. Conclusions: Our study suggests that inactivated BBIBP-CorV against SARS-CoV-2 could elicit modulations on gut microbial composition and functions, which might favor host immune response and protect from COVID-19.