Lung microbiome in human immunodeficiency virus infection

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Microbiology
• Immunology

Background:

• The lung microbiome is crucial for lung health and disease.
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and immunodeficiency are known to influence microbial colonization.
• The impact of HIV on the lung microbiome and subsequent pulmonary complications in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate alterations in the lung microbiome and virome in individuals with HIV infection.
• To understand how these microbial changes relate to pulmonary complications, particularly chronic inflammation, in HIV patients on ART.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the alveolar microbiome diversity (alpha and beta diversity) in HIV-infected individuals compared to uninfected controls.
• Assessment of changes in the lung microbiome composition with the progression of HIV disease and in response to ART.
• Investigation of lung virome alterations in HIV infection and their association with lung inflammation.

Main Results:

• HIV infection is associated with an altered alveolar microbiome, characterized by reduced richness and evenness in advanced disease.
• Differences in lung microbiome composition (beta diversity) exist between HIV-infected and uninfected individuals, with greater dispersion in the HIV group.
• Antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces but does not eliminate these microbiome differences; increased signature bacteria associated with chronic inflammation persist.
• Perturbations in the lung virome are also observed in HIV infection and linked to lung inflammation.

Conclusions:

• Alterations in both the lung microbiome and virome are likely contributors to lung inflammation in HIV-infected individuals.
• These microbial changes have significant implications for the evolving spectrum of pulmonary complications in patients living with HIV.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking microbial dysbiosis to chronic lung disease in HIV.