Agradecimentos: We thank Prof. Azucena Salas from the Department of Gastroenterology, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain, for carefully reviewing our report. The authors acknowledge the technical support of Elzira E. Saviani and the help of healthcare workers and volunteers. This work was supported by São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (#20/04583-4, #20/04579-7, #20/04746-0, #20/04919-2, #20/04558-0, #19/06372-3, #13/07607-8) and by FAEPEX-UNICAMP (# 2332/20). P.B.R. (#19/14342-7), A.B.S.P.G (#20/02312-3), P.L.P. (#17/26908-0), KB-d-S (#20/02159-0) and CLS (20/02448-2) were supported by FAPESP fellowships. L.B.P. was supported by FAEPEX-UNICAMP fellowship (#2332/20). L.M.G. and DATT were supported by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) fellowship (#140462/2020-1 and #141844/2019-1). The study was also financed by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001 Ver menos

Abstract: Microbiota-derived molecules called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) play a key role in the main-tenance of the intestinal barrier and regulation of immune response during infectious conditions. Recent reports indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection changes microbiota and SCFAs production. However, the relevance of this effect is unknown. In this study, we used human intestinal biopsies and intestinal epithelial cells to investigate the impact of SCFAs in the infection by SARS-CoV-2. SCFAs did not change the entry or replication of SARS-CoV-2 in intestinal cells. These metabolites had no effect on intestinal cells’ permeability and presented only minor effects on the production of anti-viral and inflammatory mediators. Together our findings indicate that the changes in micro-biota composition of patients with COVID-19 and, particularly, of SCFAs do not interfere with the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the intestine Ver menos