HIV infection has a tremendous impact on the immune system’s proper functioning. The mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) is significantly disarrayed during HIV infection. Compositional changes in the gut microbiota might contribute to the mucosal barrier disruption, and consequently to microbial translocation. We performed an observational, cross-sectional study aimed at evaluating changes in the fecal microbiota of HIV-infected individuals from Colombia. We analyzed the fecal microbiota of 37 individuals via 16S rRNA gene sequencing; 25 HIV-infected patients and 12 control (non-infected) individuals, which were similar in body mass index, age, gender balance and socioeconomic status. To the best of our knowledge, no such studies have been conducted in Latin American countries. Given its compositional nature, microbiota data were normalized and transformed using Aitchison’s Centered Log-Ratio. Overall, a change in the network structure in HIV-infected patients was revealed by using the SPIEC-EASI MB tool. Genera such as Blautia, Dorea, Yersinia, Escherichia-Shigella complex, Staphylococcus, and Bacteroides were highly relevant in HIV-infected individuals. Differential abundance analysis by both sparse Partial Least Square-Discriminant Analysis and Random Forest identified a greater abundance of Lachnospiraceae-OTU69, Blautia, Dorea, Roseburia, and Erysipelotrichaceae in HIV-infected individuals. We show here, for the first time, a predominantly Lachnospiraceae-based signature in HIV-infected individuals.

Background: Antiretroviral resistance-associated mutations, within the broader context of HIV-1 genetic variability, represent a growing challenge for HIV-1 control, highlighting the need for continuous molecular surveillance and mechanistic understanding of drug resistance. This study aimed to characterize mutations in the pol gene associated with resistance to protease inhibitors and to explore their structural implications. Methods: Viral RNA was extracted from plasma samples of HIV-positive patients, and a 266 bp fragment of the HIV-1 pol gene was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced using the Sanger method. Sequences showing ≥98% homology were aligned and analyzed using MEGA v11 and the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database to identify resistance-associated mutations, while viral subtypes were determined using COMET, jpHMM-HIV, and STAR tools. Amino acid sequences were used for structural modeling with AlphaFold, followed by molecular docking with Nelfinavir using the CB-Dock2 server. Results: Four samples exhibited resistance-associated profiles, including high-level, intermediate, and low-level resistance, with one isolate showing high-level resistance to multiple protease inhibitors. Structural analyses revealed that Nelfinavir preferentially binds to alternative hydrophobic cavities rather than the canonical catalytic site, lacking direct interactions with the Asp25/Asp25′ dyad. Conclusions: These findings suggest a structural mechanism of resistance based on non-canonical ligand binding that may impair effective protease inhibition.

Background: The presence of insects in hospital environments poses a potential risk for the dissemination of pathogenic bacteria, including multidrug-resistant species. Despite strict sanitation protocols, some arthropod populations persist in less regulated areas, potentially acting as mechanical vectors of bacterial contamination. Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the bacterial diversity associated with insects collected in hospital settings and assess their potential role in spreading pathogens relevant to public health. Methods: A descriptive observational approach was employed to identify and classify bacterial taxa associated with hospital-collected insects. High-throughput sequencing was used for taxonomic classification at the phylum, family, and genus levels. Results: Proteobacteria was the predominant phylum, additionally we found families such as Moraxellaceae and Mycobacteriaceae, known to include clinically relevant species. The genera Acinetobacter and Mycobacterium were particularly abundant in some samples, raising concerns about their potential role in nosocomial infections. Other identified bacteria included Pseudomonas, Escherichia, and Shigella, albeit at lower frequencies. The persistence of these bacteria in hospital environments suggests that insects may contribute to their dissemination. Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for enhanced arthropod control measures in healthcare facilities as part of routine biosecurity protocols. The presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria associated with hospital-dwelling insects reinforces their role in pathogen transmission, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive vector management strategies to mitigate nosocomial infection risks.