ITS2 Sequencing and Targeted Meta-Proteomics of Infant Gut Mycobiome Reveal the Functional Role of sp. during Atopic Dermatitis Manifestation.

Association between the gut mycobiome and atopic dermatitis was investigated in 9-12-month-old infants using metagenomics. Two groups of atopic dermatitis infants were classified according to their symptom development as outgrown (recovered) and persisted (still undergoing). The evenness and diversity of the mycobiome in the persisted group were higher than in the healthy and outgrown groups. Dysbiosis of the microbiome in the persisted group was observed by a reduction in the / ratio. Five fungi were selected as markers from each sample group. In the persisted group, sp. abundance increased significantly, while sp. and sp. abundance increased in the healthy group, and sp. and sp. abundance increased considerably in the outgrown group. Metaproteomic analysis revealed that the persisted group had a high abundance of fungal proteins, particularly those from sp. Unique proteins such as RAN-binding protein 1 and glycerol kinase from sp. were hypothesized to be related to atopic dermatitis manifestation in infants.