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Fungi make fun guys

Sarah L Gaffen1, Partha S Biswas1

  • 1Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.

Cell Host & Microbe
|March 10, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Gut fungi significantly influence host immunity and gut barrier function. These fungi also unexpectedly modulate social behavior through type 17 cytokine activation in both gut cells and neurons.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Commensal gut fungi are increasingly recognized for their roles in host health.
  • The specific mechanisms by which gut fungi interact with host systems remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of commensal gut fungi on host immunity and epithelial barrier function.
  • To explore the role of gut fungi in neuroimmune modulation and social behavior.

Main Methods:

  • The study utilized a combination of in vivo and in vitro models to assess the effects of gut fungi.
  • Analysis involved evaluating host immune responses, epithelial integrity, and neurobehavioral outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Commensal gut fungi were found to profoundly influence host immunity and epithelial barrier function.
  • Fungal presence led to the activation of type 17 cytokines.
  • These cytokines were demonstrated to mediate neuroimmune modulation, impacting social behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Commensal gut fungi play a critical role in regulating host immunity and barrier function.
  • Fungal-induced type 17 cytokine activation is a key pathway linking gut fungi to neuroimmune regulation and social behavior.

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