\u201cThe gut microbiome always affects your immune responses,\u201d she says. \u201cThere are many studies that have been done to understand how the gut microbiome affects asthma, immune disorders, and more. For this study, we want to track gut health during the vaccination process to see if the composition of the microbiome changes after the COVID-19 vaccine is introduced.\u201d<\/p>\n The gut microbiome refers to the nearly 100 trillion microbes in a person\u2019s digestive system, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. When people are born, they have very few microbe species in their gut, but quickly develop more as they ingest milk and food and interact with their environment.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the bacteria in your gut is helpful,\u201d Xu says. \u201cIt digests food so your body can absorb it and it can even boost your immune system. Some researchers think of your gut microbiome as your second brain.\u201d<\/p>\n The makeup of each individual’s gut microbiome is unique and evolves as they age, but it stabilizes to a degree once they reach adulthood. Then, as people continue to age, the diversity of the species within their gut decreases.<\/p>\n \u201cUsually adult microbiomes are pretty hard to change,\u201d Xu says.<\/p>\n She has previously conducted similar studies with cancer patients, examining their gut health before, during, and after chemotherapy. \u201cRight after they receive the chemotherapy, their gut microbiome shifts. But by 21 days after the medication, it returns to its previous composition,\u201d Xu says.<\/p>\n Now she, along with her co-researchers Xiaomei Cong<\/a>, Yanjiao Zhou<\/a>, and Penghua Wang<\/a>, wants to see how the gut microbiome affects individuals\u2019 immunity induced by the COVID-19 vaccines.<\/p>\n \u201cGenerally, we see less responsiveness to the COVID-19 vaccines in older people,\u201d Xu says. \u201cAnd we also see less microbiome diversity in older people. We think it\u2019s highly likely we will find some connection there.\u201d<\/p>\n The study will take place over six weeks, monitoring 60 participants\u2019 gut health before, during, and after they receive a COVID-19 vaccine. At various times throughout the study, the researchers will draw blood to look at participants\u2019 immune cells and see how many antibodies they generate to fight the coronavirus. They will also take stool samples to view participants\u2019 gut microbiomes and see which bacteria species are present throughout the vaccination process.<\/p>\n \u201cThis study will be really informative of how our bodies respond to the vaccine, so we can better understand the role the microbiome is playing in responses to the vaccine,\u201d Xu says.<\/p>\n The results from the study could help inform decisions related to adjusting doses to make the vaccines more effective.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the microbiome is really contributing to vaccine effectiveness, we can conduct interventions in the gut to optimize vaccine intake,\u201d Xu says, though testing those interventions would take more research trials. \u201cThis study is just a starting point. There\u2019s a long way to go, but at least it\u2019s something that will help us understand better.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/WanliCrop-e1614009941284-216x300.jpg\")