Maternal HIV Infection Influences the Microbiome of HIV-Uninfected Infants

JM Bender, F Li, S Martelly. Sci Transl Med. 2016;8(349):349ra100 Multiple studies have demonstrated that perinatally HIV-exposed but HIV-uninfected (HEU) infants experience greater morbidity and mortality than HIV-unexposed, uninfected infants (HUU). Newborn acquisition of the maternal microbiome provides metabolic and immunologic health benefits. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of HIV infection on the maternal microbiome and breast milk oligosaccharides and the subsequent impact these may have on the microbiomes of their HEU infants. A total of 50 Haitian mother-infant pairs were studied. All infants were breastfed, and no infants were on antibiotics at the time of the study. A total of 25 HIV-positive mothers and their infants were studied and compared with 25 …