Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Fungal Competition for Candidiasis Management
2Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science
3Shmunis School of Biomedical and Cancer Research, Tel Aviv University
Fungi constitute a minor fraction of the gut microbiota, but emerging evidence highlights their significant role in human health and disease. Fungal colonization often benefits rather than harms the host by enhancing immune response, thereby providing protection against various infections. Studies on commensals have advanced our understanding of host physiology and commensal adaptation. We recently identified a novel fungal species, Kazachstania weizmannii, that naturally colonizes mouse intestines. The presence of K. weizmannii prevented the stable intestinal colonization by C. albicans, a major opportunistic pathogen in humans. K. weizmannii competed with C. albicans, significantly reducing its intestinal load and mitigating lethal candidiasis in immunosuppressed animals (1). Similar competitive interactions were observed with other pathogenic Candida species, including C. parapsilosis, and a recent study established broad dominance of the Kazachstania genus over other fungi in the gastrointestinal tract (2). Analysis of human metagenomes revealed the presence of K. weizmannii in the gut and vagina of healthy individuals, suggesting its relevance to human health. Our ongoing research aims to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the competition and explore its therapeutic potential as a novel strategy for managing candidiasis.
1. Sekeresova Kralova et al. (2024). Competitive fungal commensalism mitigates candidiasis pathology. J. Exp. Med.
2. Liao et al. (2024). Fungal symbiont transmitted by free-living mice promotes type 2 immunity. Nature.