Candida albicans can foster gut dysbiosis and systemic inflammation during HIV infection

ABSTRACT

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is a ubiquitous fungal commensal component of the human microbiota, and under certain circumstances, such as during an immunocompromised state, it may initiate different types of infection. Moreover, C. albicans continuously and reciprocally interacts with the host immune system as well as with other elements of the gut microbiota, thus contributing significantly to both gut homeostasis and host immunity. People living with HIV (PLWH), including those receiving antiretroviral therapy, are characterized by a depletion of CD4 + T-cells and dysbiosis in their gut. C. albicans colonization is frequent in PLWH, causing both a high prevalence and high morbidity. Gut barrier damage and elevated levels of microbial translocation are also fairly common in this population. Herein, we take a closer look at the reciprocity among C. albicans, gut microbiota, HIV, and the host immune system, thus throwing some light on this complex interplay.

KEYWORDS:

• Candida albicans
• HIV
• gut microbiota
• dysbiosis
• systemic infections
• microbial translocation

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Author contributions

SZ and JO wrote the first draft of the manuscript. SI, XZ, VH, and HC provided critical revision of the manuscript. YC conceived and designed the study. All authors read and approved the manuscript, and agreed to its submission for publication.

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Chongqing Talent Cultivation Program (cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0275), the Joint Medical Research Project (2020GDRC010) of Chongqing Science & Technology Bureau and Chongqing Health Commission, and the Chinese Federation of Public Health foundation (GWLM202024).