Gut microbiome alterations in rats following EcoHIV infection and self-administration of cocaine.

The present study investigated gut-microbiome alterations in rats following self-administration of cocaine and EcoHIV infection. The goal was to first assess the impact of self-administration of cocaine on the gut-microbiome and then with EcoHIV following a history of cocaine use. Additionally, synaptodendritic alterations in pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex were examined to determine if any alterations were correlated with gut-microbiome alterations.