Microbiome Changes in Oral and Anal Samples From HIV-Exposed Individuals

LACUNZA E

Conferencia; 18th International Conference on Malignancies in HIV/AIDS; 2022

Accumulating evidence indicates that the microbiome plays a significant role in HIV immunopathogenesis as well as in HIV-associated complications. In Argentina, men having sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) are at the highest risk for infection with HIV and AIDS-related viruses. The aim of this study was to provide the firs characterization of the oral and anal microbiome from HIV-negative and HIV-positive MSM and TGW cohorts Accumulating evidence indicates that the microbiome plays a significant role in HIV immunopathogenesis as well as in HIV-associated complications. In Argentina, men having sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) are at the highest risk for infection with HIV and AIDS-related viruses. The aim of this study was to provide the firs characterization of the oral and anal microbiome from HIV-negative and HIV-positive MSM and TGW cohorts. A significantly lower alpha diversity and higher beta diversity were found in the anal samples compared with oral samples. Significant differences in the microbiome composition were found among subjects associated with HIV infection, gender, sex behavior, CD4+ T cell counts, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and the presence of HPV associated precancerous anal lesions. For viruses, results confirm the occurrence of oncogenic viromes in this high HIV-risk population. The HIV-associated oral microbiome was characterized by the enrichment of several bacteria related to periodontal disease pathogenesis. Conversely, predominantly anal bacteria showed a significant decrease in HIV-infected subjects (Coprococcus comes, Finegoldia magna, Blautia obeum, Catenibacterium mitsuokai). TGW showed enrichment in species related to sexual transmission, which is in concordance with the fact that the majority of recruited TGW are or have been sexual workers. Prevotella bivia and Fusobacterium gonidiaformans were positively associated with the presence of anal precancerous lesions among HIV-infected subjects. Enrichment of Holdemanella biformis and C. comes were associated with detectable viral load and ART untreated patients. Metabolic pathways were distinctively affected according to whether the predominant factors were associated with sexual behavior or HIV pathogenesis. Gene family analysis identified bacterial gene signatures, which may have potential as prognostic and predictive biomarkers of HIV/AIDS-associated malignancies. We have identified distinctive microbial features at two easily accessible sites that are related to HIV immunopathogenesis, which could also be implemented as potential biomarkers to predict the risk of precancerous anal lesions or as therapeutic targets.