[Hinews] INCHEON, South Korea — A research team led by Professors Dong-Hyun Kim and Byung-Ok Kwak at Inha University Hospital’s Pediatric Public Specialty Center has published a pivotal study in the international journal Microorganisms. The research explores how COVID-19 affects the gut microbiome and immune system in infants under two years old, offering insights into the virus’s impact on early immune development.

The team gathered fecal samples from infants diagnosed with COVID-19 and compared them with those from a healthy control group. Through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, they examined the gut microbiome’s composition in both groups. The results showed dysbiosis—a disruption in the balance of gut microbial communities—in the infected infants. Notably, beneficial bacteria like Faecalibacterium, Clostridium, and Ruminococcus were markedly reduced, while Bifidobacterium, Escherichia, and Streptococcus were more prevalent.

Professors Dong-Hyun Kim (left) and Byung-Ok Kwak (right) from Inha University Hospital’s Pediatric Public Specialty Center (Photo courtesy of Inha University Hospital)
Professors Dong-Hyun Kim (left) and Byung-Ok Kwak (right) from Inha University Hospital’s Pediatric Public Specialty Center (Photo courtesy of Inha University Hospital)


The study also found suppressed immune pathways in the infected group, including those involving interleukin-17 (IL-17), NOD-like receptors, and Toll-like receptors, which are essential for gut mucosal immunity. This suppression indicates that COVID-19 may compromise the gut’s immune defenses in young children.

“This study is one of the first to show how COVID-19 influences the gut environment and immune function in infants during a critical phase of immune development,” said Professor Kim, underscoring the importance of these findings for early childhood health.
Professor Kwak noted, “Alterations in the gut microbiome during infancy may have lasting effects on immune development. Continued monitoring and research are vital to understand the long-term consequences of these infections.”

The findings emphasize the need for ongoing studies into the enduring effects of COVID-19 on young children, particularly regarding their gut health and immune system development.

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