Unique Community of Gut Bacterial Microbiome as Indicator for HIV Infection and Progression

The human digestive tract harbors complex microbial communities within its epithelial cell lining. Disruption in enteric immunity will promote gut dysbiosis, which can successively induce chronic inflammation within the mucous membrane and periphery. Interpretation of the specific gut microbiome changes observed during HIV infection is warranted in populations most affected.This was a case-control and comparative study design carried out between June 2018 to September 2019. A total of 40 volunteer adult participants were recruited (15 HIV-negative and 25 HIV-positive) at the Buea Regional Hospital. Blood analysis was done for CD4+ T cell count and HIV viral load. Fecal samples from all participants were analyzed using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing on the next-generation Illumina® MiSeq™ sequencer. Biomarker Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) score from LEfSe analysis indicated that the specific gut microbiome, Lachnoclostridium sp32343-sp32393-sp32423 communities could serve as an indicator for HIV infection. Findings also showed that Bacteroides vulgatus (seq 11 & seq 42), Megamonas funiformis (seq 63), unclassified members of Prevotallaceae family sp14289 (seq 51), sp13942 (seq 4), and Prevotella copri-sp13942 (seq 5) could be used as gut microbiome biomarkers for increased HIV viral load and decreased CD4+ T cell count. Meanwhile gut microbiome biomarkers for decreased HIV viral load and increased CD4+ T cell count were identified as Succinivibrionaceae sp56244 (seq 47),  Eubacterium rectale (seq 8), Megamonas funiformis (seq 1 and seq 14), Prevotella copri (seq 29, seq 34, and seq 12) and unclassified Prevotellaceae sp13927 (seq 17), sp13942 (seq 5). Specific gut microbiome communities of Lachnoclostridium sp32343-sp32393-sp32423 could be used as an indicator of HIV presence. Some gut bacteria microbiome can be utilized in the management of HIV disease progression.