Author:
Gan Hairun,Min Jiumeng,Long Haoyu,Li Bing,Hu Xinyan,Zhu Zhongyi,Li Luting,Wang Tiancheng,He Xiangyan,Cai Jianxun,Zhang Yongyu,He Jianan,Chen Luan,Wang Dashuai,Su Jintao,Zhao Ni,Huang Weile,Zhang Jingjing,Su Ziqi,Guo Hui,Hu Xiaojun,Mao Junjie,Ma Jinmin,Pang Pengfei
Abstract
The high morbidity of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) brings on a panic around the world. COVID-19 is associated with sex bias, immune system, and preexisting chronic diseases. We analyzed the gene expression in patients with COVID-19 and in their microbiota in order to identify potential biomarkers to aid in disease management. A total of 129 RNA samples from nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and anal swabs were collected and sequenced in a high-throughput manner. Several microbial strains differed in abundance between patients with mild or severe COVID-19. Microbial genera were more abundant in oropharyngeal swabs than in nasopharyngeal or anal swabs. Oropharyngeal swabs allowed more sensitive detection of the causative SARS-CoV-2. Microbial and human transcriptomes in swabs from patients with mild disease showed enrichment of genes involved in amino acid metabolism, or protein modification via small protein removal, and antibacterial defense responses, respectively, whereas swabs from patients with severe disease showed enrichment of genes involved in drug metabolism, or negative regulation of apoptosis execution, spermatogenesis, and immune system, respectively. Microbial abundance and diversity did not differ significantly between males and females. The expression of several host genes on the X chromosome correlated negatively with disease severity. In this way, our analyses identify host genes whose differential expression could aid in the diagnosis of COVID-19 and prediction of its severity via non-invasive assay.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
National Key Research and Development Program of China
Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province
Subject
Microbiology (medical),Microbiology