Graduation Year
2022
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Ph.D.
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Degree Granting Department
Nursing
Major Professor
Maureen Groër, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Stephanie Prescott, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Allyson Duffy, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Adetola Louis-Jacques, M.D.
Keywords
COVID-19, gut microbiota, immunoregulation, prenatal, serostatus, surveillance
Abstract
Pregnant Hispanic females have been disproportionately impacted by SARS-CoV-2 andhave experienced high rates of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, unrecognized infection. Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with gut microbiome changes and altered peripherally circulating cytokine levels in symptomatic, non-pregnant individuals.
This study investigated the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in a sample of pregnant Hispanic females (n = 197). A sub-sample of SARS-CoV-2 seropositive and seronegative pregnant Hispanic females were followed across pregnancy and their bacterial gut microbiome was characterized, and cytokine levels measured to investigate relationships between SARS-CoV-2 serostatus, the gut microbiome, and peripherally circulating cytokine levels across pregnancy.
The seroprevalence rate in this sample of pregnant Hispanic females was 31%. Only 13% of the seropositive group reported SARS-CoV-2-related symptoms, indicating a high rate of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, unrecognized infection in this sample. No significant difference in abundance, diversity, or composition of the gut microbiome was observed between serostatus groups across pregnancy. Seropositive pregnant Hispanic females had significantly lower levels of IL-10 at the first prenatal visit and IL-12 between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. There were no associations between univariate bacterial taxa abundances and cytokine levels by serostatus. A few associations were observed between bacterial taxa and IL-17 or IFN-gamma, but these associations were irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 serostatus.
Scholar Commons Citation
Mutka, Tina Susanna, "Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies, the Gut Microbiome, and Peripherally Circulating Cytokines in Pregnant Hispanic Females" (2022). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10332
