In people with advanced liver cirrhosis, an imbalance in gut bacteria—specifically high levels of Enterococcus, low bacterial variety, and reduced production of certain bacterial metabolites—is...
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
When good gut bacteria that feed the gut lining and keep fungi in check die off, the gut becomes leaky. Toxins and fungi escape into the blood, causing widespread inflammation and making fungal infections more likely.
Most probable mechanism
When beneficial gut bacteria that produce energy for the gut lining and suppress harmful microbes disappear, the gut wall becomes leaky. This lets bacterial toxins and fungi escape into the bloodstream, triggering widespread inflammation and making the body more vulnerable to fungal infections.
Reduction in bacterial diversity and depletion of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria diminishes the energy supply to intestinal epithelial cells, weakening tight junctions between them.
Loss of barrier integrity increases intestinal permeability, allowing translocation of bacterial components and fungal elements into the portal circulation.
Translocated microbial products activate immune cells in the liver and systemic circulation, triggering release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of macrophage activation.
Depletion of bacterial competitors and loss of bacterial antifungal metabolites permit overgrowth of Candida species in the gut lumen.
Fungal components activate immune receptors, amplifying inflammatory signaling and further compromising immune regulation, increasing susceptibility to systemic fungal infections.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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Contradicting (0)
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Gold Standard Evidence Needed
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