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Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Unfolded Protein Response in HIV-1 Replication and Infectivity
Published on: June 14, 2024
Antiviral Activity of Fecal Water Samples from HIV-1 Infected Subjects Treated with a Specific Probiotic Formulation
Francesca Falasca1, Eugenio Nelson Cavallari2, Giuseppe Pietro Innocenti2
1Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to investigate if the supplementation with multistrain probiotics may be able to modulate T cell response in HIV-1 infected patients and to evaluate the anti-HIV activity of probiotic by studying fecal water (FW) samples.
Methods:
Three HIV-1-positive patients (Pt1, Pt2 and Pt3) on long-term suppressive combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) received a specific multi-strain probiotic supplementation (Vivomixx ®), for six months (T6). Levels of T cell subsets were evaluated by flow cytometry. Anti- HIV activity of FW samples was evaluated in vitro.
Results:
CD4+ T cells levels increased in all HIV-1 infected patients whereas activation markers (CD38 and HLA-DR) were decreased both on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. FW samples presented an increased inhibitory activity against HIV-1 compared to T0 (FW-Pt1: T0 =40%, T6 = 65% of reduction; FW Pt2: T0 = 26%, T6 = 46% of reduction; FW Pt3: T0 = 47%, T6 = 94% of reduction).
Discussion:
Our data suggest that the administration of the specific probiotic formulation improves the antiviral status of people living with HIV-1 under cART, also modulating T cell response.
Conclusion:
Anti-HIV activity of FW may have several public health and social implications for sexually transmitted diseases that need to be further explored.
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