Extracellular vesicles from symbiotic vaginal lactobacilli inhibit HIV-1 infection of human tissues

The vaginal microbiota, dominated by Lactobacillus spp., plays a key role in preventing HIV-1 transmission. Here, we investigate whether the anti-HIV effect of lactobacilli is mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by these bacteria. Human cervico-vaginal and tonsillar tissues ex vivo, and cell lines were infected with HIV-1 and treated with EVs released by lactobacilli isolated from vaginas of healthy women. EVs released by L. crispatus BC3 and L. gasseri BC12 protect tissues ex vivo and isolated cells from HIV-1 infection. This protection is associated with a decrease of viral attachment to target cells and viral entry due to diminished exposure of Env that mediates virus-cell interactions. Inhibition of HIV-1 infection is associated with the presence in EVs of several proteins and metabolites. Our findings demonstrate that the protective effect of Lactobacillus against HIV-1 is, in part, mediated by EVs released by these symbiotic bacteria. If confirmed in vivo, this finding may lead to new strategies to prevent male-to-female sexual HIV-1 transmission.