LiveMalasseziastrains isolated from the mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis

Abstract

AbstractThe human gut is inhabited by a complex ecosystem of diverse microorganisms. While most studies on the gut microbiota have focused on bacteria, accumulating evidence has underscored the role of the mycobiota in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study is the first to isolate and characterize liveMalassezia globosastrains from the intestinal mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis.Malasseziaspecies primarily inhabit the human skin. We therefore compared theM. globosagut isolates with theM. globosaskin isolates and noted a striking disparity between them. The gut isolates led to a greater exacerbation of colitis in mice. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the gut isolates were more sensitive to normoxia than the skin isolates, suggesting adaptation to hypoxia prevalent in the intestinal environment. These findings provide novel insights into the potential impact ofM. globosaon the pathogenesis of IBD and the influence of niche-specific adaptations on its virulence.