Altered gut microbiome composition in HIV infection: causes, effects and potential intervention

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Immunology
• Virology

Background:

• HIV infection significantly impacts the gut microbiome, leading to dysbiosis.
• Intestinal dysbiosis is linked to immune dysregulation, impaired immune recovery, and persistent inflammation in HIV patients, even under antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review changes in gut microbiome composition following HIV infection.
• To elucidate the role of intestinal dysbiosis in immune homeostasis, immune recovery, and persistent immune activation during ART.
• To summarize the efficacy of interventions targeting gut dysbiosis in HIV.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies investigating gut microbiome alterations in HIV-infected individuals.
• Analysis of evidence linking gut dysbiosis to immune parameters and treatment outcomes.
• Evaluation of interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbial transplantation.

Main Results:

• HIV-infected patients exhibit distinct gut microbiota profiles compared to uninfected individuals.
• Reduced microbial diversity is associated with microbial translocation and monocyte activation.
• Alterations in gut bacteria correlate with T-cell activation and chronic inflammation.

Conclusions:

• HIV-induced gut microbiome changes influence immune status.
• ART can independently alter the microbiome, potentially exacerbating dysbiosis.
• Probiotics and prebiotics show promise in mitigating inflammation and immune activation, but further research, including fecal microbial transplantation studies, is warranted.