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Keynote talk by Marie-Claire Arrieta
The early-life mycobiome as a determinant of host immune and metabolic development
University of Calgary, Canada
Early life represents a critical developmental window during which the gut microbiome helps shape host metabolism and immune function. While most microbiome research has focused on bacteria, emerging evidence suggests that gut fungi are integral components of early-life microbial ecosystems with important effects on host physiology. Recent work using longitudinal human cohorts and gnotobiotic mouse models demonstrates that common early-life fungal colonizers can influence metabolic and immune development through distinct mechanisms. Fungal species interact with bacterial communities, alter host metabolic trajectories, and reshape immune networks within intestinal and adipose tissues. Mechanistic studies further suggest that fungi can influence host physiology both indirectly, through modulation of host signaling and immune pathways, and directly, through interactions with dietary substrates and nutrient metabolism. Together, these findings support a broader view of the early-life mycobiome as an active regulator of developmental programming and metabolic health, extending beyond its traditionally underappreciated role within the gut microbiome.