Haematopoietic cell transplantation outcomes are linked to intestinal mycobiota dynamics and an expansion of Candida parapsilosis complex species

Analysis of the fungal and bacterial components of the intestinal microbiota of patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation identifies an association between fungal dysbiosis, an expansion of Candida parapsilosis complex species and worse patient outcomes. Allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) induces profound shifts in the intestinal bacterial microbiota. The dynamics of intestinal fungi and their impact on clinical outcomes during allo-HCT are not fully understood. Here we combined parallel high-throughput fungal ITS1 amplicon sequencing, bacterial 16S amplicon sequencing and fungal cultures of 1,279 faecal samples from a cohort of 156 patients undergoing allo-HCT to reveal potential trans-kingdom dynamics and their association with patient outcomes. We saw that the overall density and the biodiversity of intestinal fungi were stable during allo-HCT but the species composition changed drastically from day to day. We identified a subset of patients with fungal dysbiosis defined by culture positivity (n = 53) and stable expansion of Candida parapsilosis complex species (n = 19). They presented with distinct trans-kingdom microbiota profiles, characterized by a decreased intestinal bacterial biomass. These patients had worse overall survival and higher transplant-related mortality independent of candidaemia. This expands our understanding of the clinical significance of the mycobiota and suggests that targeting fungal dysbiosis may help to improve long-term patient survival.

Automated summary

Analysis of intestinal microbiota in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation revealed an association between fungal dysbiosis, expansion of Candida parapsilosis complex species and worse patient outcomes. Specific patients with fungal dysbiosis, characterized by stable expansion of Candida parapsilosis complex species, had lower overall survival and higher transplant-related mortality. Targeting fungal dysbiosis may improve long-term patient survival outcomes.