Prevotella timonensis bacteria associated with vaginal dysbiosis enhance human immunodeficiency virus type 1 susceptibility of vaginal CD4+ T cells

Author(s):
Teijlingen, N.H. van; Smoorenburg, M.Y. van; Sarrami-Forooshani, R.; Zijlstra-Willems, E.M.; Hamme, J.L. van; Borgdorff, H. (0000-0003-4277-9377); Wijgert, J.H.H.M. van de; Leeuwen, E. van; Post, J.A.M. van der; Strijbis, K.; Ribeiro, C.M.S.; Geijtenbeek, T.B.H.
Published
2024
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

Abstract

Dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome poses a serious risk for sexual human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission. Prevotella spp are abundant during vaginal dysbiosis and associated with enhanced HIV-1 susceptibility; however, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the direct effect of vaginal bacteria on HIV-1 susceptibility of vaginal CD4+ T cells. Notably, pre-exposure to Prevotella timonensis enhanced HIV-1 uptake by vaginal T cells, leading to increased viral fusion and enhanced virus production. Pre-exposure to antiretroviral inhibitors abolished P timonensis–enhanced infection. Our study shows that the vaginal microbiome directly affects mucosal CD4+ T-cell susceptibility, emphasizing importance of vaginal dysbiosis diagnosis and treatment.

CD4(+) T cellsHIV-1 susceptibilitymicrobiomevaginal dysbiosisPrevotella timonensis
Date issued
2024-05-04
Language
English
Is part of
The Journal of Infectious Diseases (2024), Vol. 230, no. 1, p. e43-e47
hdl
1887/4196010
doi
10.1093/infdis/jiae166
URL
https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/230/1/e43/7640764