Mouth bacteria, gum disease, and oral HPV in people living with HIV
Official title: Oral microbiome and periodontal diseases in oral HPV infection among people living with HIV
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11158633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether mouth bacteria and gum disease are linked to getting or keeping oral HPV in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $780,433 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE032243-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11158633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV who can attend Emory-affiliated clinic visits and are willing to provide oral samples and dental exam information are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, children, or anyone unwilling/unable to provide oral samples or attend clinic visits would not be expected to benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You would be asked to provide oral swabs and undergo a dental exam so researchers can map the bacteria in your mouth and check gum health. They will test samples for oral HPV and measure immune markers that might explain why HPV persists or clears. The team will compare people with different oral microbiome and periodontal profiles and follow HPV status over time. Laboratory methods will include microbial DNA sequencing and immune assays tied to clinical exams and medical history.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to prevent or detect oral HPV and reduce risk of throat cancers in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Some studies in people without HIV have suggested links between oral microbes, gum disease, and oral HPV, but research specifically in people living with HIV is limited, making this work relatively novel for that population.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xiao, Canhua — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Xiao, Canhua
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Oral bacteria, gum disease, and oral HPV in people living with HIV
This project looks at how the mouth’s bacteria and gum disease relate to oral HPV in people with HIV, and what immune factors might be involved.
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The connection between oral bacteria, gum disease, and HPV infection in people with HIV
This study is looking at how the bacteria in your mouth and gum diseases might affect HPV infections in people living with HIV, and it wants to learn how social factors play a role in this, so we can better understand why HPV-related cancers are more common in this group.
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Epigenetics of oral HPV-related mouth and throat cancer in people with HIV in Nigeria
This project looks for DNA markers in people living with HIV in Nigeria to find who has or might develop HPV-related mouth and throat cancers.
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Antibodies and vaginal bacteria in HPV-related cervical changes
This project looks at whether antibodies bind different vaginal bacteria in women with HPV or cervical cell changes to understand why some women develop more serious lesions.
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How HIV Treatment Might Change Oral HPV Risk
A study explored how antiretroviral therapy for HIV could affect the mouth’s lining and the chance of catching oral HPV, with participants including people living with HIV on ART and people using ART for PrEP.
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Understanding how the penile cancer microbiome and p16 relate to HPV and outcomes across diverse patients
This project will look at how the tiny microbes living in penile tumors, p16 protein levels, high-risk HPV, and clinical outcomes are connected across patients from different regions.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.