Therapeutic microbiome modulation: new frontiers in HIV treatment

Purpose of review Dysbiosis may be a key driver of systemic inflammation, which increases the risk of non-AIDS events in people living with HIV (PLWH). Modulation of the microbiome to reverse this dysbiosis may be a novel approach to decrease inflammation and therefore morbidity and mortality in PLWH. Recent findings Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and dietary modifications have the potential to modulate the microbiome. These interventions have been well tolerated in clinical trials to date. However, these interventions have not resulted in consistent or lasting changes to the microbiome or consistent changes in biomarkers of intestinal permeability, microbial translocation, inflammation, immune activation, or CD4 + T cell counts. Sustained engraftment may require prebiotics and/or dietary modifications added to either probiotics or FMT. Summary Adequately powered randomized controlled trials are needed to elucidate whether microbiome modulation can be achieved and impact systemic inflammation in PLWH.