Gut fungi may influence the development of allergic diseases

Eosinophilic-associated diseases (EADs) and allergies are closely linked, with 80% of our community also living with an atopic disease and early life atopic dermatitis associated with an increased risk of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE). For that reason, understanding why some people develop allergies could help us better understand and predict EADs.

A new study expands our understanding and suggests that certain fungal species in the gut mycobiome may play a role in their development.

What is the gut mycobiome? 

The gut mycobiome is the fungal community that lives in your gut. It’s made up of lots of different species of fungi (yeasts and moulds) and forms part of your gut microbiome (the ecosystem of microorganisms found in your gut).

Though it accounts for less than 0.1% of the total microbiome, it plays an essential role in regulating immune responses, digesting complex nutrients, and balancing the co-resident bacterial microbiome.

The composition of the gut mycobiome changes throughout the first year of life 

By analysing samples from babies at 3 months and 1 year of age, the authors found that the composition of the gut mycobiome typically changes in a set pattern, with Saccharomycetaceae populations increasing and Malassezia populations decreasing over the first year of life. 

This suggests that the mycobiome is linked to early life development.

The early life mycobiome looks different in infants who go on to develop an allergic disease 

The study also found that certain fungal species were more abundant in the gut mycobiome at 1 year of age in children who later developed atopic disease. 

The authors noted that: 

  • 1-year-old children whose gut mycobiome composition reflected that typically seen at 3 months of age were more likely to be diagnosed with atopic dermatitis by age 5. This suggests that delayed mycobiome development may influence the development of atopic conditions. 

  • Malassezia species were more abundant in infants who later developed atopic dermatitis. 

  • Children who later developed a food allergy were also more likely to have delayed fungal development at age 1. 

These findings suggest that the development of our gut mycobiome in infancy may influence our risk of developing atopic dermatitis or food allergies later in life. However, more research is needed to understand what this role could look like and why mycobiome development is delayed in some children and not others. 

The impact of the gut mycobiome on the immune system 

The authors also noted that several fungal groups identified in this study, such as Malassezia and Saccharomycetaceae, have immune-modulating properties. Further research is needed to determine whether their altered abundance in children with delayed mycobiome development influences the development of their immune system. 

An overactive immune response known as type 2 inflammation is thought to play a role in both atopic diseases and EADs. Understanding the influence, if any, of the gut mycobiome on this response could help us better understand these conditions.

Conclusion

The gut mycobiome and its impact on our long-term health is still poorly understood. However, this study has helped confirm its link to allergic diseases: 

  • The composition of the gut mycobiome typically changes during the first year of life in a set pattern, with Malassezia decreasing and Saccharomycetaceae increasing. 

  • This development can be delayed, and children with delayed fungal development at age 1 are more likely to be diagnosed with atopic dermatitis or a food allergy by the age of 5. 

  • Malassezia was more common in infants who later developed atopic dermatitis.

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