Your Microbiota

By Ben B.

From TheBody.com

I have had many thoughts lately about this recent turn of events, but I learned something yesterday that might change my life going forward:

More than half of your body's lymphocytes ("T cells") exist in your gut. Meaning your body realizes this avenue is a main entry point for most foreign microbes and the like, and provides that route with the necessary "security" for nutrients and good bacteria while hopefully keeping out the bad.

HIV loves your gut. The mucous membranes lining the intestines are a perfect breeding ground, and the gut is where HIV goes to "hide out" when your tests are coming back "undetectable." Further, the gut provides an "on-ramp" to the rest of your body because what HIV likes to do is cause havoc in the gut/blood vessel barrier. If it can disrupt that wall, it can spread from your bloodstream to new spots in your body (as well as sending other harmful gut microbes into your bloodstream, adding MORE inflammation/immune response).

HOW does this "weak but diabolical" virus do it?

In a scientific article published 6 months ago (and then reported/blogged about endlessly from there), HIV's affinity for using the gut as a "secret fortress" is discussed, vis-a-vis HIV's M.O. and its relationships with other microbial members of your own personal ecosystem.

As a virus, HIV has two goals in life: replicate and spread. The gut provides it with an ideal environment for doing that. In order to replicate, human lymphocytes are needed. This means if HIV can trigger inflammation, and therefore an immune reaction, it can propagate.

What it does in your GI tract is attempt to get "bad" microbes all fired up. In essence, HIV behaves as an instigator. I'm still trying to wrap my head around medical journal articles, et cetera, so if my data here turns out to be MISINTERPRETED, please forgive.

Somehow, HIV in your gut releases, or "catabolizes" tryptophan (catabolism is the breakdown of food into energy -- I'm not super clear on this process). If you look at your "gut mucosa" as one large petri dish, think of this tryptophan attracting all kinds of BAD bacteria that digest tryptophan.

A byproduct of this tryptophan digestion inhibits the production of "Interleukin-17" by local immunity cells. IL-17 reinforces the walls of the gut. Think Medieval: no fortress reinforcements, easier for invaders to break through and pillage.

Ergo, HIV creates a swarm of harmful bacteria that ups inflammation, drawing lymphocytes to it for replication, but also, indirectly: weakens the blood boundary of your intestinal wall, making it easier to rupture and therefore: easier for HIV to spread elsewhere. Medical studies indicate this is a very common way for the early HIV infection to take hold.

Armed with this new information, I'm looking into probiotics and nutrients that nourish the good members of your micro-ecosystem while possibly going after the bad ones. Also, I want to find out what food/nutrients I can consume that will strengthen the intestinal wall and/or make these IL-17 immunity cells stronger.

There's a lot to be said here, re: what you consume and HIV ... definitely more later.

(If I've gotten anything wrong here, please tell me ... I have so much to learn).

To read more stories about HIV/AIDS visit:

New Insight on NNRTIs and Mutations

Report found in - PA (Positively Aware) Magazine

New Insight on NNRTIs and Mutations

Why NNRTIs can lead to viral resistance

Anti-retroviral drugs such as Sustiva (efavirenz) and other non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) in combination with other anti-retrovirals can slow the progress of viral infection, prolonging life. Unfortunately, studies have shown that these benefits themselves can be short-lived—therapy with NNRTIs can lead to single (or “point”) mutations in the HIV genetic code that make the virus resistant to the drugs.

Researchers at the University of  Pittsburgh School of Medicine now have a good idea why. In work to be presented at the 58th Annual Biophysical Society Meeting, which took place in San Francisco from Feb. 15-19, cell biologist Sanford Leuba and his colleagues offered new insight into how NNRTIs function and how therapy-induced point mutations actually result in drug resistance.

NNRTIs work by blocking the action of an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which HIV uses to convert its own genetic material (in the form of RNA) into single-stranded copies of DNA, which can then be inserted into the genome of the human cells they've infected. Once incorporated, this DNA instructs the host to create new copies of the virus, propagating the infection to new cells and over time attacking the immune system, which can lead to AIDS.

Using a number of imaging techniques and computer modeling, Leuba and his team showed that, normally, the binding of efavirenz results in the formation of a molecule-sized “salt bridge” that holds the reverse transcriptase in an open state when it is attached to the template it uses in making DNA copies.

“The reverse transcriptase can still bind the template, but it continually slides,” Leuba explained, “preventing the enzyme from polymerizing nucleotides. The virus cannot replicate.”The researchers found that the point mutations that cause resistance to efavirenz prevent that salt bridge from forming, “allowing the reverse transcriptase to function normally,” Leuba says. “This type of inhibition, which does not involve drug-binding affinity, has not been described previously.”

Based on the work, he said, “We have ideas about how to begin designing a new generation of NNRTIs

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HIV ABOVE AND BEYOND

Come check out the HIV ABOVE & Beyond campaign page today!!

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CAN I GET HIV FROM ORAL SEX? The answer may or may not suprise you..

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"MY HIV MY STRENGTH"

The reason I chose 
"MY HIV MY STRENGTH" 
for
MY HIV CAMPAIGN.

Ever since I was diagnosed HIV+ I have had a mental warfare going on in my mind. As the years are passing by, this being my year number five, I am getting STRONGER. I am Coming Out as a Warrior against the STIGMA that comes along with the diagnosis of being HIV+.

I don't think anymore, I know that we tend to beat ourselves up more than anyone else for being HIV+. I have learned that the battle in my mind has been my battle against myself trying to forgive myself for not protecting myself. It was my decision NOT to protect my self from getting HIV, just because I was comfortable with the person I was with. It was not their fault. They did not know they were HIV+.

Getting tested on a regular basis if you are having sex with multiple partners is a MUST. You have no idea where that other person has been or even if they have been tested. People will also lie for their own sexual pleasure. So be STRONG and PROTECT yourself. You are the only YOU that will ever be.

Having HIV has given me a new look on life. I get up everyday and thank God that I have another day to help someone that is suffering or hurting from the news - "You Are HIV+"!! - letting them know that I have been there when you first hear those words and have survived the horror of mental torture. HIV has given me the strength to look at life with a different set of eyes. Life is so precious and we take advantage of it everyday. We have all heard "Take time to smell the Roses". Well now I actually understand what that means.

Life passes by so fast. Just like the Rose blooms in the Spring and is fragrant for a time, then it fades and withers away so quickly. So as we live this life we need to slow down and take time to enjoy what time we have on this earth before we wither and go away. Having HIV has made me STOP and smell the Roses..

There are still times when depression tries to rear its ugly head.
During those times I really have to thank God for my personal relationship with HIM. I take the time to pray and meditate on His Word so I know the truth - that He is truly there in my time of need.

So what I say: I have HIV - but know this one thing HIV does NOT have me!! Live your life as if today was the last day you would be here and make the very most of that time!! Someone out there needs your outstretched hand, your ears to hear them talk, your shoulder to cry on, and your arms to hold them tight.

I want to thank HIV for making me STRONG!!!
I am HIVICTORIOUS!!!!

David Moorman
Diagnosed May 28, 2009
Infected February 2009

Indiana Lawmaker's Gay Son Speaks Out on Dad's Anti-Equality Vote

I applauded Chris for working on his relationship
with his Dad. Family is so important for support!!
We do not always see Eye to Eye but that is okay!!
Love is the most important thing we can share
with each other.

Marriage Equality in Indiana