The Klatt Lab
More effective prevention and intervention strategies for human disease are crucial to improve human health. The Klatt lab focuses on mucosal immunology and the microbiome in human disease, including HIV, Covid-19, STIs, cancer, sepsis, etc. We perform highly translational basic and clinical research to determine mechanisms underlying disease and how to intervene and prevent disease. It is our mission to keep our research fluid and ever expanding, to always be contributing to the advancements in research.
News!
Microbial mismanagement: how inadequate treatments for vaginal dysbiosis drive the HIV epidemic in women
“Here, we provide an overview of the mechanisms by which the vaginal microbiome may contribute to HIV acquisition risk. Furthermore, we address the advantages and limitations of historical treatments and emerging technologies under investigation to modify the vaginal microbiome, including: antibiotics, bacteriophages, probiotics, topicals, and engineered bacteria.”
June 10, 2021
Research Works to Understand Drug Efficacy Sex Disparity in HIV Prevention
“A recent study by Dr. Klatt’s lab demonstrated that vaginal microbial communities may also impact PrEP drug efficacy…Dr. Klatt and colleagues have also found that women with a normal, healthy vaginal microbiome have more PrEP drug efficacy than those with BV. In the most recent follow up study, Dr. Klatt’s lab used cervicovaginal lavage samples from women with and without BV to determine how the microbiome interacts with multiple drugs used for HIV prevention.”
January 27, 2021
Sex work is associated with increased vaginal microbiome diversity in young women from Mombasa, Kenya
“Non-optimal vaginal microbiomes were common in young Kenyan women and associated with sex work and recent sexual activity, but independent of age. Restoring optimal vaginal microflora may represent a useful HIV prevention strategy.”
May 18, 2020
Antibiotic-induced microbiome perturbations are associated with significant alterations to colonic mucosal immunity in rhesus macaques
“We evaluated the effects of four specific antibiotics: enrofloxacin, cephalexin, paromomycin, and clindamycin, in healthy female rhesus macaques.”
December 4, 2019
Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus SHIV.CH505 Infection of Rhesus Macaques Results in Persistent Viral Replication and Induces Intestinal Immunopathology
“These findings suggest that SHIV.CH505 recapitulates the early viral replication dynamics and immunopathogenesis of HIV-1 infection of humans and thus can serve as a new model for HIV-1 pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention research.”
August 2019
Gut bacteria feast on the pills we pop
“Mounting data raise the question: How will drug firms respond?”
August 31, 2019
Longer neutrophil lifespan may contribute to HIV-associated intestinal inflammation
”The increased survival of white blood cells called neutrophils is associated with alterations in the intestinal microbiome of HIV-infected individuals, according to a new study.”
April 11, 2019
Vaginal Microbiome May Influence Effectiveness of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
“Over 1 million women are infected with HIV on an annual basis. To reduce this number, more understanding is needed. Even after decades of research, not much is known about the biological mechanisms that lead to HIV acquisition in this population.”
March 7, 2018
Unhealthy vagina microbiome can make HIV drugs less effective | Bob Roher | New Scientist
"The balance of bacterial strains living in the vagina can influence how effective a medicated gel is at protecting against HIV"
June 1, 2017
Women's bacteria thwarted attempt at anti-HIV vaginal gel | Lauran Neergaard | The Washington Post
"We have to look at biological variability in each person."
June 1, 2017
Vaginal bacteria species can raise HIV infection risk and undermine prevention | Jon Cohen | Science
"Showed that the vaginal microbiome doesn’t just influence infection risk; it can also directly interfere with PrEP."
July 18, 2016
UW team finding is integral to HIV drug-effectiveness puzzle | Sarah C.B. Guthrie | NewsBeat
"Pharmacy researchers detect bacteria that counteracts protective drug."
July 19, 2016