Alteration of Gut microbiota during HIV infection

Abstract

Gut flora is the community of microbial populations that live in the intestine. Approximately 30% of this population is shared by all humans, but the remaining 70% is unique to each individual, hence gut microbiota serves as an identity card. Gut microbiota play numerous functions in the body's defense against invasion, the synthesis of important vitamins, the regulation of immunological marker production, and others.  Researchers observed several data when analyzing bacteria species present in HIV-infected individuals using the 16S rRNA sequencing approach, concluding that HIV-infected people had a high number of Prevotella species, while Lachnospiraceae, Christensenellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Bacteroidaceae were all less. Those microbiota shifts may help explain how gut-related disorders interact with HIV. Researchers have discovered various methods for altering the composition of the gut microbiota in order to achieve a healthy gut. This review will focus on and highlight recent discoveries in Gut microbiota shifts during HIV infection and emphasize the immune response and treatment options.