< i > Chlamydia trachomatis < /i > and < i > Neisseria gonorrhoeae < /i > rectal infections: Interplay between rectal microbiome, HPV infection and Torquetenovirus

In this study, we explored the interplay at the rectal site betweenC.trachomatis,N.gonorrhoeae, HR-HPV infection, and the anorectal microbiome in a cohort of 92 MSM (47 infected by CT and/or NGvs 45 controls). Moreover, we assessed the presence of Torquetenovirus (TTV), a non-pathogenic endogenous virus, considered as a possible predictor of immune system activation. We found a high prevalence of HR-HPV rectal infections (61%), especially in subjects with a concurrent CT/NG rectal infection (70.2%) and in people living with HIV (84%). In addition, we observed that TTV was more prevalent in subjects with CT/NG rectal infections than in non-infected ones (70.2% vs 46.7%, respectively). The anorectal microbiome of patients infected by CT and/or NG exhibited a reduction inEscherichia, while the presence of TTV was significantly associated with higher levels ofBacteroides. We observed a positive correlation of HR-HPV types withEscherichia andCorynebacterium, and a negative correlation with the Firmicutes phylum, and withPrevotella,Oscillospira,Sutterella. Our findings shed light on some of the dynamics occurring within the rectal environment involving chlamydial/gonococcal infections, HPV, TTV, and the anorectal microbiome. These data could open new perspectives for the control and prevention of STIs in MSM.
Source: PLoS One - Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Source Type: research