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Early-life gut fungi as modulators of metabolic development

Asha Octoman1, Marie-Claire Arrieta1

  • 1Departments of Physiology & Pharmacology and Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; International Microbiome Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|June 2, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The early-life gut mycobiome, though small, significantly impacts immune and metabolic health. Research shows fungi can alter adiposity and bacterial function, opening new avenues for metabolic development research.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Metabolic Health

Background:

  • The early-life microbiome is crucial for immune maturation and metabolic programming.
  • Fungi constitute a small but influential part of the gut microbiome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on the early-life gut mycobiome.
  • To explore fungal ecological assembly, sources, and links to metabolic phenotypes.
  • To identify knowledge gaps in understanding fungal-bacterial-host interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of current research on human cohorts and gnotobiotic mouse models.
  • Analysis of studies investigating fungal species' impact on host physiology.

Main Results:

  • Specific fungal species can causally influence adiposity and adipose immune architecture.
  • Fungi can alter bacterial community function within the gut.
  • Evidence suggests a significant role for fungi in early metabolic development.

Conclusions:

  • The early-life mycobiome is a key area for metabolic development research.
  • Further investigation is needed into fungal colonization, activity, and molecular interactions.
  • Understanding the mycobiome's role may lead to novel metabolic health interventions.
Keywords:
cross-kingdom interactionsearly-life developmentgut mycobiomemetabolic programmingpregnancy

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