Gut Microbiome Changes Associated With HIV Infection and Sexual Orientation.

Jie Zhou,Jiegang Huang,Xiaodan Zhong,Ping Cui,Junjun Jiang,Hui Chen,Li Ye,Yu Zhang,Li Tian,Lijia Luo,Bingyu Liang,Chuanyi Ning,Hao Liang

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2020.00434

Abstract

Background: Many studies have explored changes in the gut microbiome associated with HIV infection, but the consistent pattern of changes has not been clarified. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are very likely to be an independent influencing factor of the gut microbiome, but relevant research is still lacking.Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis by screening 12 published studies of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of gut microbiomes related to HIV/AIDS (six of these studies contain data that is relevant and available to MSM) from NCBI and EBI databases. The analysis of gut microbiomes related to HIV infection status and MSM status included 1,288 samples (HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals, n = 744; HIV-negative (HIV–) individuals, n = 544) and 632 samples (MSM, n = 328; non-MSM, n = 304), respectively. The alpha diversity indexes, beta diversity indexes, differentially enriched genera, differentially enriched species, and differentially enriched Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional pathways related to gut microbiomes were calculated. Finally, the overall trend of the above indicators was evaluated.Results: Our results indicate that HIV+ status is associated with decreased alpha diversity of the gut microbiome. MSM status is an important factor that affects the study of HIV-related gut microbiomes; that is, MSM are associated with alpha diversity changes in the gut microbiome regardless of HIV infection, and the changes in the gut microbiome composition of MSM are more significant than those of HIV+ individuals. A consistent change in Bacteroides caccae, Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides uniformis, and Prevotella stercorea was found in HIV+ individuals and MSM. The differential expression of the gut microbiome may be accompanied by changes in functional pathways of carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and lipid Metabolism.Conclusions: This study shows that the changes in the gut microbiome are related to HIV and MSM status. Importantly, MSM status may have a far greater impact on the gut microbiome than HIV status.

Highlights

Studies have shown that the intestinal mucosa is the primary site of early HIV-1 reproduction, irrespective of the way in which HIV-1 invades the body, whether by sexual contact or blood transfusion (Mehandru et al, 2004)
The results showed that the alpha diversity of HIV+ non-antiretroviral therapy (ART) users was significantly lower than that of HIV– individuals (Shannon [Z = 2.91, false discovery rate (FDR) p = 0.021]), and the difference was not found in HIV+ ART users and HIV– individuals (Figure 2e, Supplementary Figures 13, 14)
The assessment of the overall effect of six datasets related to Men who have sex with men (MSM) status showed that MSM status was associated with decreased alpha diversity, but the results of the subgroup analysis were inconsistent

Summary

Introduction

Studies have shown that the intestinal mucosa is the primary site of early HIV-1 reproduction, irrespective of the way in which HIV-1 invades the body, whether by sexual contact or blood transfusion (Mehandru et al, 2004). There is still inconsistent evidence about the alpha diversity and composition of the gut microbiome after HIV infection. Some researchers (McHardy et al, 2013; Dinh et al, 2015; Nowak et al, 2017) compared the alpha diversity of the gut microbiome in HIV+ and HIV– individuals, but no significant difference was found. The study by Lozupone et al (2013) showed that the alpha diversity of the gut microbiome in HIV+ individuals who did not receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) was significantly higher than that of HIV– individuals. Many studies have explored the changes in the gut microbiome associated with HIV infection, the pattern of these changes has not been elucidated. MSM status is very likely an independent influencing factor of the gut microbiome, but there is still a lack of relevant research to explore it. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are very likely to be an independent influencing factor of the gut microbiome, but relevant research is still lacking

Methods

Results

Conclusion