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Microbiota Dysbiosis and Oxidative Stress: Post-COVID Sequalae & ME/CFS

More than a year after the first reported cases of COVID-19, a quest for better understanding of infection manifestation and immune response remains.More importantly, with millions infected worldwide, the pathophysiology of ‘post-COVID-19 syndrome’ or ‘COVID-19 long-haulers’, is still unknown. The various symptoms linger long after the acute phase of infection, whose effects may be long term. Clinical and pathological overlap exists between post-viral ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) and post-COVID-19 syndrome. A post-viral fatigue syndrome and if untreated, subsequent ME/CFS, could result from a wide range of viral infections, which includes infections with COVID-19. The post-viral fatigue in part, could be a manifestation of interconnected alterations in microbial, and host antioxidant defense systems.

The objectives of this study are:

a) to identify the ‘host factors’ which may contribute to lingering symptoms experienced by long-haulers post-infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus using heterogeneities from microbiota, biological parameters of oxidative stress, nutritional status, and immunological markers
b) to utilize the comparison data to evaluate if post-COVID-19 syndrome has ties with ME/CFS by assessing ‘host factors’ in both illnesses

 

The global burden due to post-COVID-19 syndrome could be immense, due to ongoing immune activation and long-term implications on one's health. Considering the progression of post-COVID-19 syndrome into ME/CFS, the timing of the proposed pilot study is crucial.

The study has not started recruiting participants.

 

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