Host Factors Associated with Gut Mycobiome Structure
Natalia Szóstak, Luiza Handschuh, Anna Samelak-Czajka, Katarzyna Tomela, Marcin Schmidt, Łukasz Pruss, Kaja Milanowska, Piotr Kozłowski, Anna Philips
Abstract
The human gut is inhabited by many organisms, including bacteria and fungi, that may affect human health. However, research on human gut mycobiome is still rare. Moreover, the large European-based cohort study is missing. Here, we analyzed the first large European cohort in terms of gut mycobiota associations with a differentiated host-related set of factors. Our results showed that chips, meat, sodas, sweetening, processed food, beer, alcohol consumption, age, and marital status were associated with the variability of gut mycobiota. Moreover, our analysis revealed changes in abundances at the fungal species level for many investigated factors. Our results can suggest potentially valuable paths for further, narrowly focused research on gut mycobiome and its impact on human health. In the coming era of gut microbiome-based precision medicine, further research into the relationship between different mycobial structures and host-related factors may result in new preventive approaches or therapeutic procedures.