Fungal symbiont transmitted by free-living mice promotes type 2 immunity.

TitleFungal symbiont transmitted by free-living mice promotes type 2 immunity.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2024
AuthorsLiao Y, Gao IH, Kusakabe T, Lin W-Y, Grier A, Pan X, Morzhanaeva O, Shea TP, Yano H, Karo-Atar D, Olsen KA, Oh JHoon, Vandegrift KJ, King IL, Cuomo CA, Artis D, Rehermann B, Lipman N, Iliev ID
JournalNature
Volume636
Issue8043
Pagination697-704
Date Published2024 Dec
ISSN1476-4687
KeywordsAnimals, Eosinophilia, Female, Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Gastrointestinal Tract, Immunity, Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein, Interleukin-33, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Mycobiome, Saccharomycetales, Symbiosis
Abstract

The gut mycobiota is crucial for intestinal homeostasis and immune function1. Yet its variability and inconsistent fungal colonization of laboratory mice hinders the study of the evolutionary and immune processes that underpin commensalism2,3. Here, we show that Kazachstania pintolopesii is a fungal commensal in wild urban and rural mice, with an exceptional ability to colonize the mouse gastrointestinal tract and dominate the gut mycobiome. Kazachstania pintolopesii colonization occurs in a bacteria-independent manner, results in enhanced colonization resistance to other fungi and is shielded from host immune surveillance, allowing commensal presence. Following changes in the mucosal environment, K. pintolopesii colonization triggers a type 2 immune response in mice and induces gastrointestinal eosinophilia. Mechanistically, we determined that K. pintolopesii activates type 2 immunity via the induction of epithelial IL-33 and downstream IL-33-ST2 signalling during mucus fluctuations. Kazachstania pintolopesii-induced type 2 immunity enhanced resistance to helminth infections or aggravated gastrointestinal allergy in a context-dependent manner. Our findings indicate that K. pintolopesii is a mouse commensal and serves as a valuable model organism for studying gut fungal commensalism and immunity in its native host. Its unnoticed presence in mouse facilities highlights the need to evaluate its influence on experimental outcomes and phenotypes.

DOI10.1038/s41586-024-08213-2
Alternate JournalNature
PubMed ID39604728
PubMed Central IDPMC11733984
Grant ListK99 AI180354 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AR070116 / AR / NIAMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI095466 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK121977 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK132244 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK126871 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
P30 CA008748 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI172027 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI163007 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
U01 AI095608 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 DK113136 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA286920 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI134911 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI178683 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI151599 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States