Fungal commensal promotes intestinal repair via its secreted peptide in mice.

Abstract

The intestinal epithelium relies on continuous stem cell-driven renewal to maintain barrier function and recover from injury. While bacterial signals are known to influence intestinal stem cell behaviour, the regenerative capacity of the gut mycobiome has remained largely unexplored. Here we identify the commensal fungus Kazachstania pintolopesii (Kp) as a critical mediator of intestinal regeneration through its secreted protein Ygp1. We found that a 12-amino acid peptide fragment of Ygp1, CD12, was sufficient to promote intestinal organoid differentiation and accelerate intestinal healing in murine models of colitis and chemotherapy-induced injury. Transcriptomics, simulations and molecular interaction experiments revealed that CD12 binds mammalian α-enolase (ENO1), enhancing YAP1 (Yes-associated protein 1) protein levels and activating regenerative transcriptional programmes through the Hippo signalling pathway. Engineered probiotics expressing CD12 replicated its therapeutic benefits, offering a translatable delivery strategy. Our work expands the therapeutic potential of the mycobiome, positioning it as a source of biologics for inflammatory and iatrogenic gut disorders.