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Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2021 May 5:taab067. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taab067

Gut microbiome and resistome changes during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison with pre-pandemic travel-related changes

Ye Peng 1,2,#, Dengwei Zhang 3,4,#, Ting Chen 5, Yankai Xia 6, Peng Wu 7, Wai-Kay Seto 8, Anita L Kozyrskyj 9, Benjamin J Cowling 10, Jincun Zhao 11,12, Hein M Tun 13,14,15,
PMCID: PMC8135950  PMID: 33949663

Abstract

COVID-19-associated measures had a greater impact on gut microbiota, ARGs, and BRGs than did pre-pandemic international travel. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Actinobacteria richness decreased while genes conferring resistance to beta-lactam, polystyrene and phthalate increased. Such alterations may affect both colonisation resistance and acquisition and spread of antimicrobial resistance in future travels.

Keywords: Gut microbiome, COVID-19, antibiotic resistance genes, biocide resistance genes, face mask, hand sanitizer


Articles from Journal of Travel Medicine are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

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