Gut Microbiota in Human Immunodeficiency VirusInfected Individuals Linked to Coronary Heart Disease

Background. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) and is associated with perturbation of the gut microbiota. We analyzed gut microbiota in 30 HIV-infected individuals with CHD (CHD+) and 30 without CHD (CHD) of the HIV-HEART study group. Gut microbiota linked to CHD was associated with lower -diversity. Despite insignificant differences in -diversity, co-occurrence networks of bacterial genera clearly diverged between CHD+ and CHD individuals. Multidimensional scaling separated HIV-infected individuals into 2 microbiome clusters, dominated by the genus Prevotella or Bacteroides. The relative abundance of 49 other genera was significantly different between both clusters. The Prevotella-rich cluster was largely composed of men who have sex with men (MSM) (97%), whereas the Bacteroides-rich cluster comprised both MSM (45%) and heterosexual individuals (55%). MSM of the Bacteroides-rich cluster were characterized by reduced -diversity, advanced immunological HIV stage, longer antiretroviral therapy with more ART regimens, and longer use of protease inhibitors, compared with Prevotella-rich MSM. Community structures of gut microbiota rather than individual species might facilitate risk assessment of CHD in HIV-infected individuals. Sexual behavior appears to be an important factor affecting gut microbiota -diversity and should be considered in future studies.Gut microbiota linked to coronary heart disease in HIV infection is characterized by reduced -diversity and altered co-occurrence network despite insignificant differences in -diversity. Sexual behavior affects -diversity of the gut microbiota and should be considered in future studies.