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The enhanced importance of CD4+ T cell based monitoring of microbial flora in patients with HIV

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) frequently display diminished CD4 + T Cell levels, heightening susceptibility to diverse infections and imposing substantial burdens alongside life-threatening risks. This study aimed to compare lung microbial communities between general infections and HIV-associated cases. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from 221 patients with lung diseases or infection underwent 16S and ITS sequencing analysis. The cohort comprised with 18 HIV-negative, GM-negative individuals; 29 HIV-negative, GM-positive individuals; 104 HIV-positive, GM-negative individuals; and 70 HIV-positive, GM-positive individuals. Through comparative analysis of microbial disparities across groups, we observed that GM test-positive individuals displayed pronounced fungal infections, which significantly amplified the detectable diversity of fungal species while exhibiting heterogeneous compositional profiles. Conversely, bacterial diversity demonstrated negligible overall variation. Notably, viral load exhibited an inverse correlation with CD4 + T Cell counts, and these immune cells further revealed a discernible association with both viral load dynamics and microbial community shifts. These insights underscore the critical necessity for real-time monitoring of CD4 + T Cell fluctuations and microbial equilibrium in HIV-infected patients.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-69120-2

Authors: Siyuan Yang, Jiayi Liu, Fengting Yu, Yunxia Tang, Xi Wang, Linghang Wang

Institutions: National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing Ditan Hospital

Language: English

Topic: HIV Research and Treatment

Subfield: Virology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,690