The Role of Intestinal Fungi in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease closely associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, encompassing not only bacterial communities but also fungal populations. Despite the growing recognition of the gut microbiome's role in UC pathogenesis, the contribution of intestinal fungi has only recently garnered significant attention. In this review, we comprehensively examine the characteristics of intestinal fungi in both healthy individuals and UC patients, elucidating their role in disease pathogenesis and their interactions with bacterial communities. Additionally, we explore the impact of intestinal fungi on disease severity and therapeutic responses in UC. Furthermore, we evaluate the therapeutic potential of antifungal agents, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in UC management, emphasizing the critical role of fungi in these treatment modalities. Future research should prioritize elucidating the multifunctional roles of fungi in UC pathogenesis and their implications for treatment strategies. Moreover, the identification of fungal biomarkers associated with FMT efficacy could pave the way for precision medicine approaches in FMT, offering novel insights into personalized therapeutic interventions for UC.