Probiotic-Derived Metabolite Identified to Repair Gut Damage and Enhance HIV Treatment

Scientists at the UC Davis School of Medicine have identified 10-hydroxystearic acid (10-HSA), a naturally occurring metabolite produced by the beneficial gut bacterium Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, which repairs gut damage caused by HIV infection. Published in Nature Microbiology, the research, conducted in a non-human primate model of HIV/AIDS, also showed that 10-HSA significantly improves the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) by rebuilding the gut barrier, restoring mitochondrial function, and reducing inflammation.