Fig. 7

Lefse and LDA analyses based on OTU characterization of fungal microbiota in PIOV (n = 336) and PIOS (n = 71). (A) Cladogram generated by Lefse method showing the phylogenetic distribution of oropharyngeal fungal microbiota associated with PIOV group and PIOS group. 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. The size of the circle is proportional to phylotype abundance. By default, it is arranged outward from phylum to species. Red circles in the branches represent fungal microbial communities that playing pivotal roles in the PIOV group; Blue circles represent fungal microbiota that playing important role in PIOS group (P < 0.05, LDA > 3). (B) Differentially abundant pathways between PIOV (n = 336) and PIOS (n = 71) were identified by LEfSe. Histogram of LDA scores calculated for selected pathways showing significant difference in gene functions between PIOV (red) and PIOS (blue). LDA score on log10 scale indicated at bottom. Significance of the microbial marker increases with LDA score. Based on LDA selection, the study found 29 metabolic pathways were significantly enhanced in PIOV group and 20 metabolic pathways in the PIOS group (P < 0.05, LDA > 3). PIOV, patients infected Omicron variant; PIOS, patients infected original strain of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); 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.