The global HIV metabolome cannot be defined without Africa

Abstract

Metabolomics has emerged as an important tool for characterising the metabolic pathways dysregulated by HIV-1 infection and long-term antiretroviral therapy.1 By capturing small molecules that reflect immune activation, chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and age-related comorbidities among people living with HIV (PLWH),2 metabolomics provides insights into disease biology. As metabolomics increasingly informs biomarker discovery and precision medicine, it is helping define the HIV-1 metabolome, providing a foundation for understanding HIV-1 disease mechanisms, identifying clinically relevant biomarkers, and improving disease monitoring and management.