How Diet, Gut Fungi, and Viruses Influence Immunity and Gut-Brain Communication

Interactions among the mycobiome, virome, and bacterial microbiota influence metabolic signaling pathways for gut-brain axis regulation.

• Fungal-bacterial and phage-bacterial interactions can change how bacterial communities function.
• These interactions can lead to the production of important microbial metabolites that regulate intestinal health and signaling.
• Key metabolites affected include short-chain fatty acids, indole metabolites, and bile acid intermediates, which influence immune responses and gut barrier integrity.
• Disruption of metabolic pathways may alter host signaling through specific receptors, impacting inflammation and neuroimmune regulation.
• Diet significantly shapes these microbial interactions, with fiber-rich diets promoting beneficial metabolic outputs and Western-type diets potentially causing ecological imbalances.

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