(13-10-14) Review article: fungal microbiota and digestive diseases.

Wang ZK1, Yang YS, Stefka AT, Sun G, Peng LH.
Author information

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The role of the fungal microbiota in digestive diseases is poorly defined, but
is becoming better understood due to advances in metagenomics.
AIM:
To review the gastrointestinal fungal microbiota and its relationship with
digestive diseases.
METHODS:
Search of the literature using PubMed and MEDLINE databases. Subject headings
including 'fungal-bacterial interactions', 'mycotoxins', 'immunity to fungi',
'fungal infection', 'fungal microbiota', 'mycobiome' and 'digestive diseases'
were used.
RESULTS:
The fungal microbiota is an integral part of the gastrointestinal
microecosystem with up to 10(6) microorganisms per gram of faeces. Next-
generation sequencing of the fungal 18S rRNA gene has allowed better
characterisation of the gastrointestinal mycobiome. Numerous interactions
between fungi and bacteria and the complex immune response to gastrointestinal
commensal or pathogenic fungi all impact on the pathophysiology of inflammatory
bowel disease and other gastrointestinal inflammatory entities such as peptic
ulcers. Mycotoxins generated as fungal metabolites contribute to disturbances
of gastrointestinal barrier and immune functions and are associated with
chronic intestinal inflammatory conditions as well as hepatocellular and
oesophagogastric cancer. Systemic and gastrointestinal disease can also lead to
secondary fungal infections. Fungal genomic databases and methodologies need to
be further developed and will allow a much better understanding of the
diversity and function of the mycobiome in gastrointestinal inflammation,
tumourigenesis, liver cirrhosis and transplantation, and its alteration as a
consequence of antibiotic therapy and chemotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS:
The fungal microbiota and its metabolites impact gastrointestinal function and
contribute to the pathogenesis of digestive diseases. Further metagenomic
analyses of the gastrointestinal mycobiome in health and disease is needed.

Source: Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Apr;39(8):751-66. doi: 10.1111/apt.12665. Epub
2014 Feb 24.

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