Zhan, Hui, Wan, Yating, Sun, Yang, Xu, Zhilu, Zhang, Fen, Yang, Keli, Zhu, Wenyi, Cheung, Chun Pan, Tang, Whitney, Ng, Enders K.W., Wong, Simon S., Yeoh, Yun Kit, Chan, Francis Kl, Miao, Yinglei, Zuo, Tao, Zeng, Zhong, and Ng, Siew C. (2024) Gut mycobiome alterations in obesity in geographically different regions. Gut Microbes, 16 (1). 2367297.

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Abstract

The gut fungi play important roles in human health and are involved in energy metabolism. This study aimed to examine gut mycobiome composition in obese subjects in two geographically different regions in China and to identify specific gut fungi associated with obesity. A total of 217 subjects from two regions with different urbanization levels [Hong Kong (HK): obese, n = 59; lean, n = 59; Kunming (KM): obese, n = 50; lean, n = 49. Mean body mass index (BMI) for obesity = 33.7] were recruited. We performed deep shotgun metagenomic sequencing on fecal samples to compare gut mycobiome composition and trophic functions in lean and obese subjects across these two regions. The gut mycobiome of obese subjects in both HK and KM were altered compared to those of lean subjects, characterized by a decrease in the relative abundance of Nakaseomyces, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida dubliniensis and an increase in the abundance of Lanchanceathermotolerans, Saccharomyces paradox, Parastagonospora nodorum and Myceliophthorathermophila. Reduced fungal – bacterial and fungal – fungal correlations as well as increased negative fungal-bacterial correlations were observed in the gut of obese subjects. Furthermore, the anti-obesity effect of fungus S. pombe was further validated using a mouse model. Supplementing high-fat diet-induced obese mice with the fungus for 12 weeks led to a significant reduction in body weight gain (p < 0.001), and an improvement in lipid and glucose metabolism compared to mice without intervention. In conclusion, the gut mycobiome composition and functionalities of obese subjects were altered. These data shed light on the potential of utilizing fungus-based therapeutics for the treatment of obesity. S. pombe may serve as a potential fungal probiotic in the prevention of diet-induced obesity and future human trials are needed.

Item ID:	91182
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1949-0984
Copyright Information:	© 2024 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
Date Deposited:	11 May 2026 02:55
FoR Codes:	32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3202 Clinical sciences > 320209 Gastroenterology and hepatology @ 20% 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3207 Medical microbiology > 320799 Medical microbiology not elsewhere classified @ 80%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2004 Public health (excl. specific population health) > 200411 Overweight and obesity @ 100%
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