Does Gut Microbiota Exacerbate HIV?

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is home to trillions of symbiotic microbes that benefit our body by aiding in digestion and outcompeting pathogenic microbes. The delicate balance between gut flora and the immune system is disrupted by chronic viral infections such as HIV. Chronic HIV infection is characterized by persistent immune activation and the continuous depletion of CD4+ helper T-cells. Recent studies have been exploring the gut microbiome’s role in HIV infection and have found that alterations to gut flora caused by HIV may have a role in exacerbating the disease. Namely, HIV causes damage to intestinal epithelia, allowing gut flora to enter the bloodstream and contribute to chronic immune activation. HIV may also be correlated with shifts in the gut floral community towards pathogenic microbes that could increase risks for disease and perpetuate HIV progression.

The Search for an HIV Vaccine: Utilizing Non-human Primates and SIV

On June 5, 1981, the U.S. CDC published a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In this report detailed five different cases of a rare lung infection, Pneumocystis carinii, in previously healthy young males, indicating severe immune deficiency. By the end of the year, there are over 270 reported cases of similar immune deficiency among young men. This immune deficiency would quickly be identified as the ultimately fatal  Human Immunodeficiency virus.

Just how big of a role does Vitamin D play in your immune system?

Getting your daily dose of sunshine for some good ‘ol vitamin D is common knowledge, but what many people may not know is why getting that daily dose of the sunshine vitamin is so important. In fact, vitamin D has recently been implicated as an important aspect of healthy immune function, for it has been shown to play a role in skeletal health, and more recently, vitamin D has been implicated for its immunosuppressant properties.

A new paper by Skaaby et al. brings to light new research on the relationship between low vitamin D levels as a risk factor for developing an autoimmune disease. Low vitamin D levels occur more frequently in northern latitudes where the sun’s intensity is not sufficient for vitamin D production during winter months. According to recent research, the incidence of autoimmune diseases is also higher in these northern latitudes, suggesting a possible relationship between the two.