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Commensal fungi in intestinal health and disease

Kyla S Ost1, June L Round2,3

  • 1Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. kyla.ost@cuanschutz.edu.

Nature Reviews. Gastroenterology & Hepatology
|July 21, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The gut mycobiota, or fungal community, plays a key role in intestinal health and disease. Understanding fungal roles and interactions offers new therapeutic avenues for gut conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • The gut microbiota influences mammalian development, digestion, and disease.
  • Research has primarily focused on bacteria, but the role of commensal fungi (the mycobiota) is gaining recognition.
  • Fungi, though fewer in number than bacteria, constitute significant biomass and possess unique eukaryotic metabolic pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evidence linking specific mycobiota members to intestinal diseases.
  • To highlight the interactions between gut fungi, bacteria, and the host immune system.
  • To explore both the detrimental and beneficial roles of gut fungi and their therapeutic potential.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on the gut mycobiota and intestinal diseases.
  • Analysis of research on fungal-bacterial and fungal-immune interactions.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding the impact of fungi on inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

Main Results:

  • Specific fungal species are implicated in the pathogenesis of various intestinal diseases.
  • Fungal communities interact significantly with bacterial communities and the host immune system.
  • Both pathogenic and beneficial roles of gut fungi have been identified.

Conclusions:

  • The gut mycobiota is a critical factor in intestinal health and disease.
  • Targeting fungi and their interactions presents promising therapeutic strategies for gastrointestinal disorders.
  • Further research into the mycobiota is essential for developing novel treatments.

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