# Alcohol-induced Dysbiosis and HIV-associated Pneumonia

> **NIH NIH R21** · LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER · 2020 · $174,563

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Both alcohol misuse and HIV infection increase the risk for bacterial pneumonia, but the explanation for this
increased risk is unknown. Preliminary data from our laboratory implicate changes in the gut microbiome
(dysbiosis). We hypothesize that host susceptibility to bacterial pneumonia in alcohol-misusing and HIV-infected
subjects is mediated through intestinal dysbiosis and changes in sIgA coating of specific bacterial groups. We
will study human subjects and use a unique fecal transplant model where human fecal samples are
xenotransplanted into mice. There are 2 Specific Aims. SA1 will address dysbiotic sIgA-coated bacteria as they
influence host responses to a lung infectious challenge. SA2 will investigate the Mucosal-Associated Invariant T
(MAIT) cell population of as an immune link between alcohol-induced dysbiosis and impaired host defense
against pneumonia. This project will uncover mechanisms through which changes in gut microflora influence
host responses to pulmonary infection (the gut-lung axis) and will lead to new knowledge as to how alcohol and
HIV infection impair immunity in the lung.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10023920
- **Project number:** 5R21AA027199-02
- **Recipient organization:** LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** JUDD E SHELLITO
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $174,563
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-24 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10023920

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10023920, Alcohol-induced Dysbiosis and HIV-associated Pneumonia (5R21AA027199-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10023920. Licensed CC0.

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