Evaluation of gut microbiota composition in elite controllers and antiretroviral-treated people with HIV after aspirin versus atorvastatin administration

Gut dysbiosis is associated with chronic immune activation in people with HIV (PWH), but is not well-characterized in elite controllers (ECs) or PWH receiving aspirin or statins. We analyzed gut microbiota among 22 virally-suppressed PWH and 12 ECs before and 9-months after randomization to aspirin or atorvastatin. There were no differences in microbiota between PWH and EC at baseline. There was a significant change in beta diversity after aspirin administration, but no difference in microbiota after atorvastatin. These findings suggest that ECs have gut microbiota resembling virally-suppressed PWH, and aspirin but not atorvastatin may impact gut microbiota diversity in PWH.