Invasive Fungal Infections in Severe Alcohol-associated Hepatitis

Chronic alcohol consumption is associated with intestinal bacterial dysbiosis, yet little is known about the role of intestinal fungi, or mycobiota in liver disease. Although the intestinal microbiome contains bacteria, fungi, and viruses, research in the field of liver disease has almost exclusively focused on the interaction between the host and gut bacteria. The fungal microbiota is an integral part of the gastrointestinal micro-ecosystem with up to 106 microorganisms per gram of faeces. Numerous interactions between fungi and bacteria and the complex immune response to gastrointestinal commensal or pathogenic fungi have been demonstrated in prior studies. Alcohol-dependent patients display a reduced intestinal fungal diversity and Candida overgrowth. Compared with healthy individuals and patients with non-alcohol-related cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis patients also demonstrate systemic exposure and immune response to mycobiota. Thus, chronic alcohol consumption is associated with an altered mycobiota and translocation of fungal products. Manipulating the intestinal mycobiome might be an effective strategy for attenuating alcohol-related liver disease especially alcoholic hepatitis. In this study, we will attempt to find out the natural fungal mycobiome in Severe alcoholic hepatitis when compared with apparently healthy asymptomatic controls from their family. This will allow us to therapeutically modify the unbalanced gut microbiota and improve patient outcomes. Secondly, it will provide further insight as to why alcohol-associated hepatitis patients are particularly susceptible to fungal infections. In the age of frequent antibacterial drug therapy, the role of commensal and pathogenic fungi in the human gut has gained paramount importance.