Written by: Shruthi Aravindan Edited by: Esther Melamed COVID-19 infection is often characterized by a cytokine storm which contributes to the high levels of inflammation. While COVID-19 is most commonly a respiratory infection, there are often symptoms that manifest in other parts of the body and in conjunction with multiple organ failure in severe cases. One of the often-overlooked effects of COVID-19 is on the enteric nervous system (ENS), which is composed of neurons that line the walls of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The gut microbiome is a collection of microbes that live in …
New Frontiers in COVID-19 and Autoimmunity
Written by: Chumeng Wang Edited by: Esther Melamed Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers and clinicians have sought to determine predispositions that may put individuals at higher risk for severe disease. As the virus spread and information became available about typical recovery times, more questions arose as some patients reported symptoms of Long COVID, or Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), in which symptoms like fatigue, headache, and smell/taste changes can persist for weeks-months after initial infection not only in those who had been hospitalized, but also …
A perspective: the COVID pandemic’s negative impact on our microbiome
Written by: Nadia Siles Edited by: Esther Melamed As we observe the first anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic and reflect on how the pandemic changed and continues to shape our lives. We need to carefully assess how the pandemic control measures implemented worldwide to reduce transmission and save lives: social distancing, lockdowns, 20-second handwashing, and mask-wearing; may negatively impact our future health. In a perspective research article, Finlay et al. explore the many ways that COVID-19 related societal practices may be affecting our microbiome and indirectly influencing …