Milk microbiome of mothers with HIV

Children without HIV born to women with HIV experience increased morbidity andmortality compared to children born to women without HIV. The basis of this increased vulnerability isunknown. The microbiome, specifically the infant gut microbiome, likely plays an important role ininfant immune development. The breast milk microbiome is thought to have an important role inseeding the infant gut, and therefore, if perturbed, may contribute to this increased vulnerability. Weinvestigate the effects of HIV and its therapies on the milk microbiome and possible changes in the milkmicrobiome before or after infant HIV infection.