Mycobiome-Host Interactions in Health & Disease

Recent advances in our understanding of the mycobiome have revealed an important link between different fungi and a wide range of diseases, from the serious (inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease) to the more prosaic (such as dandruff). In this talk, we will explore the mycobiome, including potential benefits. We will also look at how the human host recognises and interacts with fungi, and what the implications are for host-microbiome interactions in health and disease.

Learning objectives:

• Overview of the multi-kingdom nature of the microbiome, including presence of fungi and viruses.
• Understanding the significance of the mycobiome (fungal community) in terms of host responses to fungi.
• Understanding the significance of specific fungal components in host-fungal interactions – particularly with reference to discrimination between commensal and pathogenic fungi.
• Understanding the impact of fungi on host homeostatic responses.
• The clinical associations between mycobiome shifts and disease, and their functional basis – particularly with reference to IBD, skin conditions and liver disease.