Intestinal fungi are causally implicated in microbiome assembly and immune development in mice

Erik van Tilburg Bernardes, Veronika Kuchařová Pettersen, Mackenzie W. Gutierrez, Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe, Nicholas G. Jendzjowsky, Jean-Baptiste Cavin, Fernando A. Vicentini, Catherine M. Keenan, Hena R. Ramay, Jumana Samara, Wallace K. MacNaughton, Richard J. A. Wilson, Margaret M. Kelly, Kathy D. McCoy, Keith A. Sharkey and Marie-Claire Arrieta ()
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Erik van Tilburg Bernardes: University of Calgary
Veronika Kuchařová Pettersen: University of Calgary
Mackenzie W. Gutierrez: University of Calgary
Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe: University of Calgary
Nicholas G. Jendzjowsky: University of Calgary
Jean-Baptiste Cavin: University of Calgary
Fernando A. Vicentini: University of Calgary
Catherine M. Keenan: University of Calgary
Hena R. Ramay: University of Calgary
Jumana Samara: University of Calgary
Wallace K. MacNaughton: University of Calgary
Richard J. A. Wilson: University of Calgary
Margaret M. Kelly: University of Calgary
Kathy D. McCoy: University of Calgary
Keith A. Sharkey: University of Calgary
Marie-Claire Arrieta: University of Calgary

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract The gut microbiome consists of a multi-kingdom microbial community. Whilst the role of bacteria as causal contributors governing host physiological development is well established, the role of fungi remains to be determined. Here, we use germ-free mice colonized with defined species of bacteria, fungi, or both to differentiate the causal role of fungi on microbiome assembly, immune development, susceptibility to colitis, and airway inflammation. Fungal colonization promotes major shifts in bacterial microbiome ecology, and has an independent effect on innate and adaptive immune development in young mice. While exclusive fungal colonization is insufficient to elicit overt dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis, bacterial and fungal co-colonization increase colonic inflammation. Ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation reveals that bacterial, but not fungal colonization is necessary to decrease airway inflammation, yet fungi selectively promotes macrophage infiltration in the airway. Together, our findings demonstrate a causal role for fungi in microbial ecology and host immune functionality, and therefore prompt the inclusion of fungi in therapeutic approaches aimed at modulating early life microbiomes.

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-16431-1

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16431-1

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