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Updated: May 9, 2026

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Published on: July 1, 2020
An immunological link between Candida albicans colonization and Crohn's disease
Romain Gerard1, Boualem Sendid, Jean-Frederic Colombel
1Université Lille Nord de France , 59000 Lille , France .
Crohn's disease (CD) may be initiated by the yeast Candida albicans, not just bacteria. This review explores the link between gut colonization by C. albicans and CD development in genetically susceptible individuals.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Crohn's disease (CD) is a major autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affecting millions.
- The exact cause of CD is unknown, but it involves an abnormal immune response to gut microbes in susceptible individuals.
- Research has focused on bacterial involvement, but the role of the commensal yeast Candida albicans is increasingly recognized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pathways involved in CD progression.
- To examine the host response to Candida albicans.
- To establish a potential link between gut colonization by C. albicans and CD initiation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on Crohn's disease etiology.
- Analysis of host immune responses to Candida albicans.
- Exploration of gut microbial colonization in relation to inflammatory bowel disease.
Main Results:
- Candida albicans, a common gut yeast, is implicated in CD development.
- The host's inflammatory response to C. albicans may trigger or exacerbate CD.
- Gut colonization by C. albicans presents a potential pathway for CD initiation.
Conclusions:
- Candida albicans is a potential initiator of the inflammatory processes in Crohn's disease.
- Understanding the host-C. albicans interaction is crucial for CD research.
- Further investigation into the role of yeast in IBD pathogenesis is warranted.
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