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Background: The human gut mycobiome, a minor but integral component of the gut microbiome, has emerged as a significant player in host homeostasis and disease development. While bacteria have traditionally been the focus of gut microbiome studies, recent evidence suggests that fungal communities (mycobiota) may also play a crucial role in modulating health, particularly in neuropsychiatric disorders., Objective: This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on the relationship between the gut mycobiome and neuropsychiatric disorders, exploring the potential of targeting fungal communities as a novel therapeutic strategy., Methods: We summarized recent findings from metagenomic analyses that characterize the diversity and composition of gut mycobiota and discuss how these communities interact with the host and other microorganisms via the gut-brain axis. Key methodologies for studying mycobiota, such as high-throughout sequencing and bioinformatics approaches, were also reviewed to highlight advances in the field., Results: Emerging research links gut mycobiota dysbiosis to conditions such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, and depression. Studies indicate that specific fungal populations, such as Candida and Saccharomyces , may influence neuroinflammation, gut permeability and immune responses, thereby affecting mental health outcomes., Conclusion: Understanding the gut mycobiome's role in neuropsychiatric disorders opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions, including antifungal treatments, probiotics, and dietary modifications. Future research should integrate multi-omics approaches to unravel the complex interkingdom interactions within the gut ecosystem, paving the way for personalized medicine in mental health care., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Hadrich, Turki, Chaari, Abdelmoula, Gargouri, Khemakhem, Elatoui, Abid, Kammoun, Rekik, Aloulou, Sehli, Mrad, Neji, Feiguin, Aloulou, Abdelmoula and Sellami.) more...

Introduction: The cycle of Echinococcus granulosus and its developmental potential has always been a subject of debate. While the origin of protoscoleces was well defined, the origin of daughter cysts (DC) was still a contentious topic, and several hypotheses have been proposed. The aim of this work was to study the fertility of DC and its predictive factors in order to determine its origin. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective pilot study including hepatic echinococcal cysts containing DC operated in the Department of General and Visceral Surgery of Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, during a 22-month period. A parasitological study of the DC including the determination of their fertility was done. Results: A total of 248 DC collected from 27 multi-vesicular cysts from 21 patients were included in our study. The fertility rate of the DC was 64.5%. Free hooks were present in 130 DC (52.4%) and in only 11(12%) of infertile DC. In a multi-variable analysis, only World Health Organization-Informal Working Groups on Echinococcosis classification type CE2, bilious cyst fluid, number of DC per cyst, cyst size, and DC diameter were factors associated with DC fertility (p < 0.05). Out of 88 infertile DC, 77 (87.5%) were devoid of any hooks. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that most of the analyzed DC were fertile, with fertility associated with factors such as cyst size, DC size, CE2 type, and number of DC/cysts. The absence of hooks in infertile DC questions prevailing theories of their origin. more...

The interplay between human microbiota and various physiological systems has garnered significant attention in recent years. The gut microbiota plays a critical role in maintaining physiological homeostasis and influences various aspects of human health, particularly via the gut brain axis. Since 2017, the challenging concept of the gut-retina axis has emerged thanks to a network analysis emphasizing the potential role of the gut microbiota disruption in the development of the age-related macular degeneration and further retinal damages. Many other ocular disorders have been linked to the dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, including uveitis and glaucoma. It has been shown that age related macular degeneration can be prevented or reversed using a diet that induces changes in the gut microbiota. The potential link between the gut microbiota as well as others types of microbiota such as the ocular surface microbiota and the development/progression of age related as well as inherited retinal degenerations and other degenerative eye diseases, has recently been broadened. Therefore, the pathogenesis of several eye diseases has recently been associated with a larger perception called the gut eye axis. This mini-review examines the potential mechanisms underlying the gut eye axis and suggests implications for the management of eye diseases. By understanding the modulation of the gut microbiota and its impact on eye disease, this mini-review provides insight into potential therapeutic interventions and avenues for future research., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Kammoun, Rekik, Dlensi, Aloulou, Smaoui, Sellami, Trigui, Gargouri, Chaari, Sellami, Elatoui, Khemakhem, Hadrich, Neji, Abdelmoula and Bouayed Abdelmoula.) more...

The molecular characterization of Malassezia spp. isolates from animals and humans has not been thoroughly studied. Although a range of molecular methods has been developed for diagnosing Malassezia species, they have several drawbacks, such as inefficiency in differentiating all the species, high cost and questionable reproducibility. The present study aimed to develop VNTR markers for genotyping Malassezia isolated from clinical and animal samples. A total of 44 M. globosa and 24 M. restricta isolates were analyzed. Twelve VNTR markers were selected on seven different chromosomes (I, II, III, IV, V, VII and IX), six for each Malassezia species. The highest discriminatory power for a single locus was obtained with the STR-MG1 marker (0.829) and STR-MR2 marker (0.818) for M. globosa and M. restricta , respectively. After the analysis of multiple loci, 24 genotypes were noted among 44 isolates in M. globosa , with a discrimination index D of 0.943 and 15 genotypes were noted among 24 isolates in M. restricta , with a discrimination index D of 0.967. An endogenous infection was detected in two patients. Different genotypes of M. globosa strains colonized one patient. Interestingly, VNTR markers analysis revealed a carriage between a breeder and his dog in three cases for M. globosa and two for M. restricta . The FST (0.018 to 0.057) values indicate a low differentiation between the three populations of M. globosa . These results suggest a dominant clonal mode of reproduction in M. globosa . The typing of M. restricta showed a genotypic diversity of the strains, which can cause various skin pathologies. However, patient five was colonized with strains having the same genotype collected from different body parts (back, shoulder). VNTR analysis was capable of identifying species with high accuracy and reliability. More importantly, the method would facilitate monitoring Malassezia colonization in domestic animals and humans. It was shown that the patterns are stable and the method is discriminant, making it a powerful tool for epidemiological purposes. more...