Cervicovaginal bacteria modulate genital inflammation; however, their role in HIV
susceptibility has not been elucidated. In a prospective cohort of young, healthy South
African women, we found that individuals with diverse genital bacterial communities
dominated by anaerobes other than Gardnerella were at over 4-fold higher risk of acquiring
HIV and had increased numbers of activated mucosal CD4+ T cells compared to those with …