{
    "abstract": "The gut microbiota (GM) plays an essential role in human health, influencing not only digestive processes but also the immune system\u00b4s functionality. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the complex interaction between viral infections and the GM. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 can disrupt microbial homeostasis, leading to dysbiosis and compromised immune responses. The severity of COVID-19 has been associated with a reduction in the abundance of several beneficial bacteria in the gut. It has been proposed that consuming probiotics may help to re-colonize the GM. Although probiotics are important, prebiotics are essential for their metabolism, growth, and re-colonization capabilities. This chapter delves into the critical role of prebiotics in restoring GM after COVID-19 disease. The mechanisms by which prebiotics enhance the metabolism of beneficial bacteria will be described, and how prebiotics mediate the re-colonization of the gut with beneficial bacteria, thereby restoring microbial diversity and promoting the resilience of the gut-associated immune system. The benefits of consuming prebiotics from natural sources are superior to those from chemically purified commercial products.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "Autlan Regional Hospital, Jalisco Health Services, Autlan, Jalisco, Mexico; Biology Laboratory, Autlan Regional Preparatory School, University of Guadalajara, Autlan, Jalisco, Mexico. Electronic address: alberto.rubio@sems.udg.mx.",
            "firstname": "Alberto",
            "initials": "A",
            "lastname": "Rubio-Casillas"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Biology Laboratory, Autlan Regional Preparatory School, University of Guadalajara, Autlan, Jalisco, Mexico.",
            "firstname": "C\u00e9sar Manuel",
            "initials": "CM",
            "lastname": "Rodr\u00edguez-Quintero"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, International University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Electronic address: ahromic@ius.edu.ba.",
            "firstname": "Altijana",
            "initials": "A",
            "lastname": "Hromi\u0107-Jahjefendi\u0107"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States; Laboratory of New Methods in Biology, Institute for Biological Instrumentation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center \"Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences\", Pushchino, Russia. Electronic address: vuversky@usf.edu.",
            "firstname": "Vladimir N",
            "initials": "VN",
            "lastname": "Uversky"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Therapeutic and Protective Proteins Laboratory, Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications, New Borg EL-Arab, Alexandria, Egypt.",
            "firstname": "Elrashdy M",
            "initials": "EM",
            "lastname": "Redwan"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Craniomed Group Srl, Research Facility, Montemiletto (Av), Italy.",
            "firstname": "Carlo",
            "initials": "C",
            "lastname": "Brogna"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": "Copyright \u00a9 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.",
    "doi": "10.1016/bs.pmbts.2025.01.004",
    "journal": "Progress in molecular biology and translational science",
    "keywords": [
        "COVID-19",
        "Long COVID",
        "SARS-CoV-2",
        "gut microbiota",
        "prebiotics"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2025-04-18",
    "pubmed_id": "40246350",
    "results": null,
    "title": "The essential role of prebiotics in restoring\u00a0gut health in long COVID.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788504e2d170>"
}