Bacterial Translocation Might Be an Important Aspect of HIV Pathogenesis

Levels of DNA encoding bacterial ribosomal 16S RNA were directly correlated with plasma HIV RNA levels in untreated patients and inversely correlated with CD4-cell recovery in treated patients.

Previous reports have suggested that HIV causes extensive destruction in the gastrointestinal (GI) lymph nodes just days after it has established a new infection. Such lymphatic damage potentially allows bacterial pathogens to invade the body. In previous studies, researchers have used bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels as a surrogate for this bacterial invasion and have shown that LPS levels are correlated with markers of HIV disease progression. These observations have been used to postulate that GI bacterial translocation induces chronic immune activation, which hastens HIV disease progression.

To further evaluate the role of bacterial translocation in HIV pathogenesis, investigators measured levels of DNA encoding bacterial riboso…

Reviewing Author

Manish Sagar, MD

Bacterial Translocation Might Be an Important Aspect of HIV Pathogenesis

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Reviewing Author