Beyond the effects of HIV infection and integrase inhibitors-based therapies on oral bacteriome

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Oral microbiome is the second largest microbial community in humans after gut. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection triggers an impairment of the immune system which could favour the growth and the colonization of pathogens in the oral cavity, and this dysbiosis has been associated with oral manifestations that worsen the quality of life of these patients. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) could also drive changes in specific oral bacterial taxa associated with such periodontal diseases. Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs), therapy of choice in the treatment of naive HIV-patients, are able to reverse the impact of HIV infection on systemic inflammation, gut permeability and gut bacterial diversity/richness. The objective of this study was to analyse the effects of HIV infection per se and INSTIs on salivary bacteriome composition, taking into consideration other factors such as smoking, that could also have a significant impact on oral microbiome. Methods: To accomplish this objective, 26 non-HIV-infected volunteers and 30 HIV-infected patients (15 naive and 15 under INSTI-regimen) were recruited. Salivary samples were collected to measure lysozyme levels. Oral bacteriome composition was analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: Naive HIV-infected patients showed statistically higher levels of lysozyme compared to controls (p < 0.001) and INSTIs-treated patients (p < 0.05). Our study was unable to detect differences in α nor β-diversity among the three groups analysed, although significant differences in the abundance of some bacterial taxonomical orders were detected. These differences seem to be partially independent of smoking habit. Conclusions: HIV infection and INSTIs effects on oral microbiota seem not to be very potent, probably due to the modulation of other factors such as smoking and the greatest outward exposure of the oral cavity.