HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) causes progressive CD4+ T cell depletion leading to AIDS. In the WikiBiome framework, HIV is notable for the gut-centric model of disease progression: HIV preferentially destroys gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) early in infection, causing massive CD4+ depletion in the gut → barrier failure → microbial translocation → chronic immune activation — a cycle that drives disease progression and cardiometabolic comorbidities even when viral load is suppressed by ART.
Gut Microbiome in HIV
- Dysbiosis: Depletion of Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, and SCFA producers; enrichment of Proteobacteria, Prevotella (in MSM), and pathobionts [1].
- Microbial translocation: LPS and bacterial DNA in plasma even during successful ART — driving chronic inflammation, endotoxemia, and cardiovascular risk [1].
- Cardiometabolic: HIV-associated gut dysbiosis and microbial translocation drive atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, and CVD — the leading cause of death in ART-treated HIV.
- Gut-brain axis: Cannabinoid-microbiota interactions in HIV/SIV models [2].
Metal Connection
- Heavy metal exposure promotes candida albicans virulence in immunocompromised HIV patients [3].
- HIV-associated immune depletion impairs nutritional immunity, reducing the host's ability to restrict metals from pathogens.
Cross-References
- endotoxemia — microbial translocation driving chronic activation
- candida albicans — opportunistic infection in immunocompromised
- cardiovascular disease — leading cause of death in ART-treated HIV
- tuberculosis — major HIV co-infection
- gut brain axis — HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders