The emerging role of the gut mycobiome in liver diseases

In recent years, it has become clear that gut microbiota plays a major role in the human body, both in health and disease. Because of that, the gut microbiome and its impact on human well-being are getting wider and wider attention. Studies focused on the liver are not an exception. However, the majority of the analyses are concentrated on the bacterial part of the gut microbiota, while the fungi living in the human intestines are often omitted or underappreciated. This review is focused on the gut mycobiome as an important factor that should be taken into consideration regarding liver homeostasis and its perturbations. We have collected the findings in this field and we discuss their importance. We aim to emphasize the fungal compositional changes related to liver diseases and, by that, provide novel insights into the directions of liver research and gut microbiota as a therapeutic target for liver diseases.

Automated summary

In recent years, the role of gut microbiota in human health and disease has gained increasing attention. However, most studies on the gut microbiome primarily focus on bacteria and neglect the fungi that exist in the human intestines. This review highlights the importance of the gut mycobiome in liver homeostasis and its perturbations, emphasizing the compositional changes of fungi in liver diseases and providing new insights for liver research and potential therapeutic targets.