Intestinal microbiota and Candida species

The intestinal microbiota and Candida species represent a complex ecological relationship within the human gastrointestinal tract, where Candida albicans typically exists as a commensal organism (Nobile & Johnson, 2015, Nature Reviews Microbiology). A healthy bacterial microbiota provides colonization resistance by competing for nutrients and adhesion sites, and by producing metabolites like short-chain fatty acids that inhibit the transition of Candida from yeast to its pathogenic hyphal form (Fan et al., 2015, Cell Host & Microbe). When this balance is disrupted, often by broad-spectrum antibiotics, Candida can proliferate and cause mucosal or systemic infections, particularly in immunocompromised hosts (Koh et al., 2008, Infection and Immunity). Therapeutic interventions targeting this axis include the use of antifungals to reduce fungal burden and probiotics, such as Lactobacillus species, to restore bacterial competition and mucosal integrity (Matsubara et al., 2016, Frontiers in Microbiology). Understanding this interaction is crucial for managing diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), where fungal dysbiosis is frequently observed (Sokol et al., 2017, Gut).

Other names

Gut mycobiomeCandida-microbiome axisIntestinal mycobiotaCommensal fungi

Antifungals inhibit fungal growth by targeting ergosterol synthesis or cell wall integrity, while probiotics and commensal bacteria suppress Candida through competitive exclusion, production of inhibitory metabolites (e.g., lactic acid, SCFAs), and modulation of host mucosal immunity.