Differential study on the relationship between HPV infection and vaginal microbiota composition in Uygur and Han women

Abstract

Objective: To analysis the differential composition in vaginal microbial communities following HPV infection in Uygur and Han women, and to Explore the correlation between these difference and the degree of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection in Uygur women compared to Han women.

Methods: A total of 151 Uygur and Han women, with and without HPV, were studied at Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region People's Hospital (June 2021-June 2022). These participants were divided into six groups: Uygur control (CV), Uygur transient infection (TPV), Uygur persistent infection (PPV), Han control (CH), Han transient infection (TPH), Han persistent infection (PPH). Vaginal microbiota diversity and dominant bacteria with or without HPV infection were compared using 16S rDNA sequencing.

Results: After HPV infection, vaginal pH increased significantly in Uygur and Han women. Vaginal environment cleanliness decreased notably only in Han women (P < 0.05). In Han women, Lactobacillus and Gardnerella dominated both with or without HPV infection. Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Atopobium decreased, while Sneathia increased significantly in persistent HPV cases. Among Uygur women, Gardnerella, Streptococcus, Prevotella, and Shuttleworthia increased significantly in the TPV group, with lower Lactobacillus compared to CV and PPV groups. Bacterial diversity indices (Chao1, Shannon, Simpson) were significantly lower in TPH compared to CH (P < 0.05), with no significant difference in PPH compared to CH (P > 0.05). Chao1 index was significantly lower in TPH than TPV (P < 0.05), with no difference between PPH and PPV (P > 0.05). CV group's Chao1 index was significantly lower than CH (P < 0.01). PCoA and NMDS analyses showed distinct vaginal microbiota between TPH and TPV groups. LEfSe identified 20 differentially expressed taxa in CH-TPH-PPH comparison and 17 in CV-TPV-PPV.

Conclusion: Our study reveals ethnic-specific differences in vaginal microbial responses to HPV infection, with notable alterations in diversity and composition. The differential patterns observed between Uygur and Han women underscore the importance of considering host ethnicity in HPV-related microbial dysbiosis, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions targeting microbial signatures to enhance HPV prevention and management strategies.

Keywords: 16S high-throughput sequencing; Cervical lesion; HPV infection; Vaginal microbiota.