To analyze the impact of integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)–based antiretroviral therapy on gut microbiota composition and immune function in HIV-positive patients, specifically focusing on changes in microbial diversity and immune recovery.
Key Findings:
Alpha diversity showed a non-significant increase from ART-naïve to long-term INSTI-treated patients, suggesting partial restoration of microbial diversity.
Long-term INSTI therapy enriched beneficial taxa such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Lactobacillus ruminis, while reducing pro-inflammatory taxa.
Higher CD4+ T cell counts correlated positively with beneficial bacterial abundance and improved gut health indicators, indicating enhanced immune function.
Interpretation:
Integrase inhibitor–based ART promotes partial normalization of gut microbiota, enhancing beneficial taxa associated with immune recovery in HIV patients, which may inform future therapeutic strategies.
Limitations:
Small sample size of 30 participants may limit generalizability.
Short duration of follow-up for some participants may not capture long-term effects.
Lack of a control group limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions.
Conclusion:
INSTI-based ART may support gut microbiota restoration and immune function, suggesting potential for microbiota-targeted interventions in HIV management, such as probiotics or dietary changes.
