A new vaccine against aggressive fungi could potentially help people with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease. Researchers at the University of Utah have discovered that the yeast fungus Candida albicans is often problematic for people with weakened immune systems. Candida albicans can transform into an invasive form that damages the skin and mucous membranes, causing a condition known as candidiasis. The researchers found that Candida albicans is the strongest trigger of immune responses, and they used this knowledge to develop a vaccine that stimulates the production of antibodies. The vaccine was successful in preventing damage from fungal infections in animals with chronic intestinal inflammation.
The human gut contains not only bacteria but also numerous types of fungi. Normally, the immune system prevents potentially harmful fungi from negatively affecting health. However, some people are more susceptible to fungal infections due to an imbalance in their immune system. The researchers at the University of Utah investigated the immune system and fungal colonization of people and mice with weakened immune systems. They found that Candida albicans is often problematic and can transform into an invasive form that damages the skin and mucous membranes. The researchers used this knowledge to develop a vaccine that stimulates the production of antibodies, which can neutralize the fungus and prevent damage from fungal infections.
The vaccine was successful in preventing damage from fungal infections in animals with chronic intestinal inflammation. The researchers believe that similar vaccines could be used to treat chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease in the future. This research is significant because fungi have received little attention in medical research, despite their prevalence in the human gut. The development of a vaccine against Candida albicans could potentially help millions of people suffering from chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.
