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Gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with worse emotional states in HIV infection

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Abstract

The biological mechanisms underlying emotional distress in HIV infection are likely to be complex but remain understudied. We investigated whether dysbiotic signatures in the gut microbiome of persons living with HIV (PLWH) are associated with their emotional status. We retrospectively examined the gut microbiome and clinical evaluation of 129 adults (94 PLWH and 35 HIV−) enrolled at UC San Diego’s HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program. A subset of participants (32 PLWH vs. 13 HIV−) underwent an emotional assessment using the NIH Toolbox Emotion Battery summarized by three composite scores (negative affect, social satisfaction, and psychological well-being). We then sequenced the 16S rDNA V3-V4 regions from stool and performed taxonomic assignment using CLC Microbial Genomics Module. The gut microbiota profiles were evaluated in relation to participants’ emotional assessment. All analyses were done in R statistical software. We found that the relative abundance of aerotolerant bacteria was significantly higher in PLWH (p < 0.01) and was associated with a lifetime major depression diagnosis independently of HIV status (p = 0.05). Moreover, PLWH experienced significantly worse psychological well-being (p = 0.02), less social satisfaction (p = 0.03), and more negative affect (p = 0.02). Higher levels of aerotolerant bacteria were associated with worse psychological well-being (rho = -0.35, p = 0.02), less social satisfaction (r = − 0.42, p < 0.01), and more negative affect (rho = 0.46, p < 0.01). The association of aerotolerant bacteria with social satisfaction and negative affect was independent of HIV status (p < 0.05, for both). The over-representation of aerotolerant bacteria in the gut may reflect worse oxidative stress and barrier defects and may contribute to emotional distress during HIV infection.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Carlos Solá-Morlá, Jamie L. Ortíz-Santiago, Jeannette L. Salgado, and André Beauchamp-Saalman.

Funding

The project described was supported by the NIH, National Institute of Mental Health R25 MH108389; K23 MH105297; R01 MH107345; U01 MH83506; P30 MH62512; K24 MH097673, and National Institute of Drug Abuse P50 DA26306. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. This publication was also supported by the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the UPR (a public corporation of the Government of Puerto Rico created in virtue of Law 230 of August 26, 2004 as amended). The content is entirely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Comprehensive Cancer Center UPR.

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Pérez-Santiago, J., Marquine, M.J., Cookson, D. et al. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with worse emotional states in HIV infection. J. Neurovirol. 27, 228–238 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13365-020-00933-1

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