Intermicrobial interactions in bacterial-fungal associations

One of the factors contributing to the increase in the incidence of mycoses is the formation of intermicrobial associations with opportunistic microbiota. Changing the balance in such communities may cause the emergence of other associated diseases. The influence of microorganisms on each other occurs through signaling molecules and exometabolites. Complex bacterial and fungal associations of pathogens of purulentinflammatory infections are more difficult to respond to antimicrobial therapy and lead to a more severe clinical course or death. This review examines the features of bacterial-fungal interactions of Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., Cryptococcus spp. According to literature, the decisive role in the virulent activity of fungi in bacterial-fungal associations is played by the species composition of associates involved in the development of the pathological process. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the quantitative ratio of microorganisms, as well as the degree of virulence of fungi, which increases significantly under the influence of metabolites of associated bacteria. Therefore, further study of fungal-bacterial associations is necessary to understand fundamental issues related to the evolution of microbial virulence and antimicrobial resistance. The interactions in the studied bacterial-fungal associations are very dynamic and diverse. The nature of the relationships between microorganisms affects not only survival, but also the virulence of each other.