Human papillomavirus and torque teno virus infections profile in young adults living with HIV/Aids

• Grant number: 25/02873-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2026
• End date: December 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Fabiana Martins e Martins de Oliveira
• Grantee: Fabiana Martins e Martins de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Associated researchers: Aluisio Augusto Cotrim Segurado ; Karem López Ortega ; Marina Helena Cury Gallottini ; Paulo Henrique Braz da Silva

Abstract

The Brazilian epidemiological reports on HIV/Aids published in 2022 revealed 434,803 new cases of HIV infection in Brazil from 2007 to June 2022, with 305,197 (70.2%) cases recorded in men and 129,473 (29.8%) in women. The increase in cases among young people is a concern, with 23.7% of the cases being young people aged 15 to 24. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main sexually transmitted infection in the world, often resulting in benign and malignant lesions on the skin and mucosa. Among people living with HIV (PLHIV), especially young adults, there is a high prevalence of infection by multiple HPV genotypes, with a particular emphasis on high-risk types (HR-HPV), even among those regularly using antiretroviral therapy (ART). This condition is associated with greater viral persistence, higher HPV load, and an increased risk of developing precursor lesions for cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. Recent studies highlight the importance of investigating coinfections associated with immunosuppression, such as simultaneous infection by HPV and Torque Teno Virus (TTV). This DNA virus, widely disseminated in the general population, has its replication modulated by the host's immune status, being detected more frequently in PLHIV and in samples positive for HR-HPV. Its presence in saliva has been correlated with lower levels of CD4+ T lymphocytes and detectable HIV viral loads, establishing it as a potential biomarker of immunosuppression. Furthermore, growing evidence suggests a link between HIV infection and profound changes in the oral microbiome, impacting the diversity and composition of the microbiota, particularly in situations of salivary dysbiosis. Saliva, due to containing components essential for oral homeostasis, undergoes functional changes in immunosuppressed individuals, favoring the proliferation of opportunistic microorganisms. Given this scenario, the present study aims to evaluate and correlate the presence of HPV DNA in different anatomical sites (oropharynx, anogenital region, and uterine cervix), the quantification of salivary TTV, the composition of the oral microbiome, and its clinical, immunological, and behavioral outcomes in young adults living with HIV. The investigation of these interrelationships may contribute to the characterization of the infection profile in this population and to the development of new clinical, prevention, and monitoring strategies, based on viral and microbiological biomarkers, adapted to the reality of public services. (AU)