Our results show that collectively rather than individually the biomarkers soluble CD14 (sCD14) and soluble scavenger receptor (sCD163), and the microbial species Akkermansia muciniphila, Bacteroides caccae,Bacteroidesfragilis,Bacteroidesuniformis, Bacteroides spp., Butyricimonas spp., Dehalobacterium spp., Methanobrevibacter spp., and Odoribacter spp., mediate the effects of sexual behavior on HIV-1 infection. The gene discussed is CD163; the disease is HIV-1 infection.