The causal links between gut microbiota and COVID-19: A Mendelian randomization study

Several studies have shown a possible correlation between gut microbiota and COVID-19. However, the cause-and-effect relationship between the two has not been investigated. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization study (MR) study using publicly available GWAS data. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis was the main MR analysis technique and was supplemented with other sensitivity analyses. Forty-two bacterial genera were associated with COVID-19 susceptibility, hospitalization, and severity in the IVW method. Among these gut microbiota, five gut microbiota (genus unknowngenus [id.1000005472], family unknownfamily [id.1000005471], genus Tyzzerella3, order MollicutesRF9.id.11579, and phylum Actinobacteria) were significantly associated with COVID-19 hospitalization and severity. Three gut microbiota (class Negativicutes, order Selenomonadales, and class Actinobacteria) were significantly associated with COVID-19 hospitalization and susceptibility, while two microbiota (class Negativicutes and order Selenomonadales) were significantly associated with COVID-19 hospitalization and severity, and susceptibility. Sensitivity analysis did not detect any heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. Our findings demonstrated that several microorganisms were causally linked to COVID-19, and improved our understanding of the relationship between gut microbiota and COVID-19 pathology.