**Discussion of PhD Candidate "Mustafa Ahmed Dawood"** **Date:** Sunday, 2-6-2024, 10:00 AM **Department:** Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University **Thesis Title:** **A Study on the Association of Human Papilloma Virus in Infertile Males and the Possible Role of HPV-L1 and Aquaporin 8 Proteins Interaction** **Supervisors:** 1. Prof. Dr. Arwa Majeed Abdullah / Microbiology - Virology / College of Medicine / Al-Nahrain University 2. Prof. Dr. Ola Mohammed Ridha Al-Kawaz / Urology and Infertility / High Institute for Diagnosis of Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technologies / Al-Nahrain University **Examination Committee:** 1. Prof. Dr. Ismail Ibrahim Latif / Microbiology - Immunology / College of Medicine / Diyala University 2. Prof. Dr. Haider Sabah Kadhim / Microbiology / College of Medicine / Al-Nahrain University 3. Prof. Dr. Asmaa Baqir Salim / Microbiology - Virology / College of Medicine / Al-Nahrain University 4. Assist. Prof. Dr. Sahar Mudhat Hussein / Molecular Genetics / College of Biotechnology / Al-Nahrain University 5. Assist. Prof. Dr. Laith Amer Abdul-Hussein / Urology / College of Medicine / Al-Nahrain University **Study Summary:** The study involved testing 200 semen samples using Real Time PCR, including 100 from males with unexplained infertility and 100 from healthy males. The results showed that 20 samples tested positive for high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV), with 17 positive samples from infertile males and 3 from fertile males. The study revealed a statistically significant impact of high-risk HPV infection on sperm morphology (P>0.002) and sperm motility (P>0.004). Additionally, the results indicated a highly significant correlation between oxidative stress levels, sperm parameters, and HPV infection (P>0.001). Moreover, the study demonstrated an interaction between HPV-L1 protein and AQP8 protein at the same site within the sperm head in HPV-positive samples. The study concluded that HPV infection contributes to male infertility due to the interaction of aquaporin-8 with sperm, leading to increased oxidative stress. 
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