# Host immunity to commensal gut fungi

> **NIH NIH R01** · CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $479,837

## Abstract

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Little is known about the role of gut fungi in regulating a healthy gut microflora and in contributing to
inflammatory disorders. Most studies of gut microflora focus on commensal bacteria which make up the majority
of microbes in the gut. Numerous studies have documented effects of intestinal bacteria on tuning mucosal
immunity and in instructing tissue development and repair. Antibiotic use, host genetics, and diet influence the
bacterial microbiota and susceptibility to intestinal inflammatory disease. What about fungi? Our overall
hypothesis is that intestinal fungal dysbiosis influences the immune system in ways that can increase
susceptibility to inflammatory disease and that can be targeted to increase resistance to inflammatory disease.
In this renewal proposal, we document that disruption of the “normal” mycobiome in mice causes increased
susceptibility to colitis and to allergic asthma. We propose studies aimed at understanding how antibiotic use,
host genetics, and diet influence the intestinal fungal microbiota (“mycobiota”) in the near and long-term. We
will characterize how common (Candida and Saccharomyces) and less well-known (Wallemia, Epicoccum)
fungi influence susceptibility to intestinal inflammatory disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10160894
- **Project number:** 5R01DK093426-08
- **Recipient organization:** CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** David M. Underhill
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $479,837
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-07-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10160894

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10160894, Host immunity to commensal gut fungi (5R01DK093426-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10160894. Licensed CC0.

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