Gut microbiome of virally-infected C57BL/6 mice

Chronic viruses such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Hepatitis C Virus currently afflict hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Some chronic viruses are able to colonize mucosal surfaces such as the gastrointestinal tract (GI), which act as barrier tissues that allow selective interaction of the host’s mucosal immune system with environmental factors such as microbiota, food antigens or pathogens. Gut mucosal alterations are associated with highly inflammatory conditions and diseases including obesity and autism. Although numerous correlative studies associate specific GI tract microbial species with immune parameters and health of HIV-infected individuals, mechanistic studies establishing a causal relationship between certain components of the microbiota, the anti-viral immune response, host resistance and tolerance to the infection are lacking. Here we propose to combine high- throughput microbiological techniques with immunological approaches in order to gain functional understanding on the impact of the intestinal microbiota in gut health and overall anti-viral immunity in a well-established mouse model of chronic viral infection. By doing so, we will contribute to the basic understanding on how hosts can adapt to life-long coexistence with persistent pathogens and the implications for host health