Project R-15705

Beyond Bacteria: A Novel Look at the Gut Mycobiome's Role in Multiple Sclerosis (Research)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with unclear etiology, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Recent studies have highlighted a potential role of the gut microbiome in MS, with a specific focus on the bacterial components. However, the impact of the gut mycobiota- the fungal community, on immune function and disease remains underexplored. Of note, our preliminary results show distinct fungal community profiles in RRMS patients compared to healthy controls and the manipulation of the mycobiota in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model for MS, indicated an important role on gut microbiome, immune cells and disease activity. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that gut fungi play an important role on microbiome-immune interactions and thereby could impact the pathogenesis of MS. Thus, this research proposal aims to clarify the role of the gut mycobiome in MS by investigating its impact on immune function and disease activity, providing insights into the fungidriven molecular mechanisms that might affect host immunity and influence the progression of the disease. The outcomes of this proposed research could revolutionize our understanding of the involvement of the gut mycobiome on immune function and autoimmunity and could therefore pave the way for the development of novel innovative treatment strategies for MS.

01 October 2025 - 30 September 2029