Scoping review reveals gut microbiome dysbiosis in Long COVID, indicating potential therapeutic targets for persistent post-viral symptoms.
Key Points
To map existing literature on microbiome dysbiosis in Long COVID, pinpoint key microbial changes and associated symptoms, and evaluate microbiome-targeted interventions.
Conducted a scoping review following JBI guidance and PRISMA-ScR standards across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from January 2000 to May 2025.
Included 62 sources focusing on human subjects with clinically diagnosed Long COVID and microbiome-related outcomes, synthesizing data narratively and descriptively.
Identified gut dysbiosis marked by reduced beneficial taxa (Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Bifidobacterium adolescentis) and elevated pro-inflammatory taxa (Ruminococcus gnavus and Clostridium innocuum).
Observed microbial alterations linked to core Long COVID symptoms, including chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, neuropsychiatric manifestations, and persistent immune dysregulation.
Identified proposed therapies such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, dietary modifications, and fecal microbiota transplantation, noting an absence of robust interventional trial evidence.
Cite This Study
Cano-Cevallos et al. (2026) studied this question.