# Mechanisms of fungal involvement during intestinal disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2020 · $458,847

## Abstract

Abstract
The commensal microbiota has important impacts on host physiology and health that are only beginning to be
elucidated. Most current studies, however, have focused only on the bacterial microbiota despite the presence
of fungal, archaeal and viral members. The presence of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ASCA) antibodies
serves as a diagnostic tool for Crohn’s disease (CD) and suggests that fungal members of the microbiota
contribute to disease severity. Moreover, common genetic polymorphisms identified in individuals with IBD,
such as Nod2, Dectin-1, and Card9 are known to recognize fungal cell wall components. We have recently
demonstrated that one of the most prominent members of the mycobiota, S. cerevisiae, can exacerbate
intestinal colitis through upregulation of host purine metabolism in the gut. The end product of purine
metabolism in humans is uric acid. Recent studies have demonstrated that uric acid can have significant
impacts on autophagy. Coincidentally, many of the genes associated with IBD in humans, impact autophagic
processes. There is a significant body of clinical literature that links autophagy, yeast, and uric acid production,
yet these relationships have yet to be explored. Here we propose to identify how fungal members of the
microbiota induce purine metabolism from intestinal epithelia and determine how purine metabolism influences
intestinal immunity to worsen disease. We have brought together an inter-disciplinary team of investigators
with combined expertise in autophagy, fungal genetics and mucosal immunology to explore how yeast can
functionally influence intestinal disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9943167
- **Project number:** 1R01DK124336-01
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** June Louise Round
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $458,847
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-05-08 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9943167

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9943167, Mechanisms of fungal involvement during intestinal disease (1R01DK124336-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9943167. Licensed CC0.

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