Fig. 4

LEfSe and LDA analyses based on OTU characterization of microbiota in PIOV (n = 336), RP (n = 234), and HC (n = 299). (A Cladogram generated by Lefse method showing the phylogenetic distribution of oropharyngeal fungal microbiota associated with PIOV, RP, and HC. Each filled circle represents one phylotype. phylum and class are represented by name on the cladogram. Order, family, genus, and species are listed on the bottom panel. Red circles in the branches represent fungal microbial communities that playing pivotal roles in PIOV; Blue circles represent fungal microbiota that playing important role in RP; Green circles represent fungal microbiota that playing important role in HC. Yellow circles represent fungal microbiome of little significance in either group. (P < 0.05, LDA > 3). (B Differentially abundant pathways across PIOV (n = 336), RP (n = 234) and HC (n = 299) identified by LEfSe. Histogram of LDA scores calculated for selected pathways showing significant difference in gene functions between PIOV (red), RP (blue) and HC (green). LDA score on log10 scale indicated at bottom. Significance of the microbial marker increases with LDA score. Based on LDA selection, the study found 32 metabolic pathways were significantly enhanced in PIOV group, 11 metabolic pathways in RP group, and 22 metabolic pathways in the HC group (P < 0.05, LDA > 3). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. PIOV, patients infected Omicron variant; RP, recovered patients infected Omicron; HC, healthy control; LEfSe, Linear discriminant analysis effect size; LDA, Linear discriminant analysis. OTUs, operational taxonomy units; centerline, median; box limits, upper and lower quartiles; error bars, 95% CI.