A team of researchers from UC Davis Health discovered that the anti-inflammatory drug, mesalamine, can play a role in fighting the fungus Candida albicans in the gut. Candida, known for causing yeast infections, can develop into invasive candidiasis in patients with compromised immunity. The study found that the fungus requires oxygen to grow and that mesalamine can create a low oxygen environment that prevents its bloom in the gut. This research offers a potential new treatment option for fatal fungal infections, especially in cancer patients.
Antibiotic use can lead to fungal overgrowth in the gut, particularly in patients with compromised immunity. A decrease in the microbial community, specifically Clostridia, can result in the colonization of Candida in the gut. The overgrowth of Candida can lead to invasive candidiasis, a potentially deadly infection with a high mortality rate. The researchers aimed to understand the factors involved in antibiotic-induced colonization of Candida in the gut, focusing on the role of oxygen and probiotics in preventing fungal growth.
The team conducted experiments in germ-free mice and found that Candida thrives on simple sugars and oxygen. However, in a low oxygen setting, the fungus did not grow despite the presence of sugars. This highlighted the importance of oxygen in Candida growth. Additionally, probiotics, such as Clostridia, were effective in preventing Candida growth in the gut. However, probiotics may not be safe for patients undergoing cancer treatment or antibiotics. As a result, the researchers explored alternative options for controlling Candida growth in the gut.
The researchers investigated 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), also known as mesalamine, as a potential treatment for controlling Candida growth in the gut. 5-ASA is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The team found that 5-ASA could mimic the function of probiotics by preventing oxygen in the colon, thereby inhibiting the expansion of Candida in the gut. This discovery offers a new approach for reducing invasive candidiasis, especially in patients with cancer.
The study proposed the term “faux-biotics” to refer to products like 5-ASA that can mimic the function of probiotics in controlling fungal growth in the gut. By limiting oxygen in the gut and replacing the function of good bacteria, such as Clostridia, the researchers identified a potential strategy for reducing fatal fungal infections. This research opens up new possibilities for treating fungal infections, particularly in high-risk patient populations. The study’s findings offer hope for a new treatment option that could be effective in preventing invasive candidiasis in patients with compromised immunity.
The researchers involved in the study included a team from UC Davis Health, led by Andreas Bäumler, a distinguished professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. The study’s first coauthors were Hannah Savage, Derek Bays, and Connor Tiffany, with several other co-authors contributing to the research. Overall, the study sheds light on the potential of anti-inflammatory drugs like mesalamine in combating fungal infections and offers new insights into the role of oxygen and probiotics in controlling Candida growth in the gut.