Local farming of gut fungi protects against dangerous imports

Candida albicans is viewed as a harmless commensal in health and a dangerous parasite in disease. Recently in Cell, Doron et al. (2021) reveal that C. albicans in the gut additionally serves as a mutualist by provoking the immune system to generate far-reaching antibodies that defend against invasive fungal infections.

Automated summary

Candida albicans in the gut serves as a mutualist by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies that protect against invasive fungal infections, revealing a previously unknown beneficial role of this fungus in the body.