Background Intestinal microbial dysbiosis is evident in chronic HIV-infected individuals and may underlie inflammation that persists even during antiretroviral therapy (ART). It remains unclear, however, how early after HIV infection gut dysbiosis emerges and how it is affected by early ART. Methods Fecal microbiota were studied by 16s rDNA sequencing in 52 Thai men who have sex with men (MSM), at diagnosis of acute HIV infection (AHI), Fiebig Stages 1–5 (F1-5), and after 6 months of ART initiation, and in 7 Thai MSM HIV-uninfected controls. Dysbiotic bacterial taxa were associated with relevant inflammatory markers. Results Fecal microbiota profiling of AHI pre-ART vs HIV-uninfected controls showed a mild dysbiosis. Transition from F1-3 of acute infection was characterized by enrichment in pro-inflammatory bacteria. Lower proportions of Bacteroidetes and higher frequencies of Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria members were observed post-ART compared with pre-ART. Fusobacteria members were positively correlated with levels of soluble CD14 in AHI post-ART. Conclusions Evidence of gut dysbiosis was observed during early acute HIV infection and was partially restored upon early ART initiation. The association of dysbiotic bacterial taxa with inflammatory markers suggests that a potential relationship between altered gut microbiota and systemic inflammation may also be established during AHI.

Objective:The main objective is to investigate the antibacterial effect of diode laser against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans biofilm.Materials and Methods:Biofilms of A. actinomycetemcomitans plus Streptococcus sanguinis grown on bovine root surfaces were treated with an 810-nm diode laser using a noncontact pulsed mode with a pulse interval and pulse length of 20 ms. Four protocols, that is, one episode of 1.5 or 2.5 W for 30 s and three episodes of 1.5 or 2.5 W for 30 s were tested. No treatment and 0.2% chlorhexidine treatment served as negative and positive controls, respectively. Viable bacterial number was determined by colony counting.Results:Treatment with chlorhexidine and all laser protocols except that using single episode of 1.5 W reduced the number of A. actinomycetemcomitans in either single-species or dual-species biofilm compared to negative control. A higher percentage of A. actinomycetemcomitans reduction was demonstrated after increasing the power output or repeating the irradiation.Conclusions:The laser protocols used in this study could reduce the number of viable bacteria but not eradicate A. actinomycetemcomitans biofilm.