Competitive fungal commensalism mitigates candidiasis pathology

Abstract

AbstractThe mycobiota are a critical part of the gut microbiome, but host-fungal interactions and specific functional contributions of commensal fungi to host fitness remain incompletely understood. Here we report the identification of a new fungal commensal,Kazachstania heterogenicavar.weizmannii,isolated from murine intestines.K. weizmanniiexposure preventedCandida albicanscolonization and significantly reduced the commensalC. albicansburden in colonized animals. Following immunosuppression ofC. albicanscolonized mice, competitive fungal commensalism thereby mitigated fatal candidiasis. Metagenome analysis revealedK. weizmanniipresence among human commensals. Our results reveal competitive fungal commensalism within the intestinal microbiota, independent of bacteria and immune responses, that could bear potential therapeutic value for the management ofC. albicans-mediated diseases.