Effects of Probiotics on Intestinal Microflora of HIV-infected Individuals

Aims: HIV-1 infection results in structural damage to the intestinal mucosa and changes of gut microflora following dysfunction of the gastrointestinal system, including compromised barrier function. Known properties of probiotics suggest that they may be useful tools in restoring normal intestinal flora. Our study goal was to determine whether the use of a probiotics can recover normal gut flora in chronically HIV-infected adults.

Study Design: Cohort Design.

Place and Duration of Study: Sumy State University, Medical Institute. Department of Microbiology and Clinical Immunology.

Methodology: The study involved 40 HIV-1-infected patients of the regional center of prevention and control of AIDS in Kharkov. All the patients were informed about the purpose and plan of study and gave their written agreement to participate in the study. All the patients had been diagnosed according to the criteria of WHO with the III-IV stage of HIV infection. During the month before the survey the patients did not take any antibiotics. Dysbiosis correction circuit was designed for one month taking of probiotic preparations. Six weeks later the follow-up study was conducted to investigate gut microflora of 20 HIV-infected patients.

Results: Changes of intestinal microbiota were found in all of the patients. In the most cases the decrease of obligatory microorganisms, especially Bifidobacterium spp. (in 90% of patients) was found. Overgrowth of major opportunistic pathogens (S. aureus and Candida spp.) was registered in only a minority of patients. The probiotic interventions resulted in significantly elevated levels of beneficial bacteria load (such as Bifidobacterium spp, Lactobacillus spp.) and a decrease in patogenic bacteria load (such as Clostridium spp, Candida spp).

Conclusion: Probiotic preparations can successfully augment the levels of beneficial species in the gut during chronic HIV-1 infection. These findings may help inform future studies aimed at testing pre- and probiotic approaches to improve gut function and mucosal immunity in chronic HIV-1 infection.