Research Projects

HIV-1 is primarily transmitted through sexual contacts, particularly vaginal and anal sex. Factors such as bacterial flora perturbations and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains have increased the chance of sexual transmission of HIV-1. Studies have reported the impact of HIV-1 infection on increasing the risk of urinary tract infection (UTI). However, the effect of bacterial microbes on HIV itself has not been studied. This grant application proposes that a direct interaction between HIV-1 and certain bacteria present in the genitourinary mucosa, particularly vaginal microbiome isolates of Lactobacillus species and UPEC strains, augments virus infectivity and transmissibility to sexual partners. This may result from bacteria-mediated capture and entrapment of infectious HIV-1 virions, which not only enhance virus accumulation but may also promote virus stability, infectivity, and transmission. The predominant NLGs present on HIV-1 Env are high-mannose glycans (HMGs), making them a potential target for naturally occurring carbohydrate-binding lectins (CBLs), particularly mannose-binding lectins (MBLs). These CBAs recognize sugars on glycoproteins with a very fine specificity and play a key role in establishing host-pathogen interactions during pathogen invasion. The hypothesis is that many bacterial strains within the genitourinary tract express MBLs and can be potential candidates for capturing and transmitting virus along the sexual route.