Do Sexual Practices Change the Gut Microbiome in HIV-Infected Patients?

The human gut harbors an enormously diverse community of microorganisms, collectively referred to as the microbiome, which has been linked to chronic inflammation and a variety of conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Several cross-sectional studies have indicated that HIV infection is associated with alteration in the gut microbiome, but whether sexual practices have an effect is unknown. To address this question, European researchers characterized two cohorts comprising 156 individuals in Barcelona (129 HIV-positive, 27 HIV-negative) and 84 individuals in Stockholm (77 HIV-positive, 7 HIV-negative).The frequency of antibiotic use in the previous 3 to 6 months was not significantly different between the HIV-positive an…