Characterization of the oral microbiota among middle-aged men with and without human papillomavirus infection

Objectives: To characterize the oral microbiota among middle-aged men and identify differences between men with a prevalent oral high-risk (oncogenic) HPV infection and those without. Materials and Methods: This was a case-control study nested within a prospective screening study for HPV-related cancers among middle-aged men. 16S rRNA sequencing was used to characterize the oral microbiota and the cobas HPV Test was used to detect presence of oral high-risk HPV types. We determined the overall composition of the oral microbiota and assessed differences in relative abundance of bacterial taxa as well as alpha and beta diversity among men with a prevalent oral high-risk HPV infection compared to men who were HPV-negative. Results: Among 13 high-risk HPV-positive and 30 HPV-negative men, we found significant differences in beta diversity but not alpha diversity. Fretibacterium, F0058, Kingella, Treponema, and Prevotella were more abundant among the high-risk HPV-positive men while Neisseria and Lactobacillus were more abundant among the HPV-negative men. Conclusion: This study adds to the evidence that the oral microbiota varies according to oral HPV infection status and may be associated with the natural history of oral HPV infection.