HIV Infection is associated with compositional and functional shifts in the rectal mucosal microbiota.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Regardless of infection route, the intestine is the primary site for HIV-1 infection establishment and results in significant mucosal CD4+ T lymphocyte depletion, induces an inflammatory state that propagates viral dissemination, facilitates microbial translocation, and fosters establishment of one of the largest HIV reservoirs. Here we test the prediction that HIV infection modifies the composition and function of the mucosal commensal microbiota.

Results

Rectal mucosal microbiota were collected from human subjects using a sponge-based sampling methodology. Samples were collected from 20 HIV-positive men not receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART), 20 HIV-positive men on cART and 20 healthy, HIV-negative men. Microbial composition of samples was anal

SUBMITTER: McHardy IH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3971626 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature