King's College London discovers IL‑1 pathway that blocks fatal Candida albicans infection

Researchers at King's College London have identified the interleukin‑1 (IL‑1) family signaling pathway as a critical early immune defense that prevents the normally harmless fungus Candida albicans from spreading beyond the mouth and gut to cause systemic, potentially lethal infection. Experiments in mice showed that animals lacking IL‑1 signaling develop severe disease when exposed to C. albicans, while normal mice clear the pathogen. The findings, published in Nature Microbiology, may explain why only a subset of immunocompromised patients—such as those undergoing chemotherapy or living with HIV—develop invasive candidiasis. Lead author James S. Griffiths said, “Most people carry Candida albicans harmlessly as part of the body’s natural microbiome, but in immunocompromised patients it can spread throughout the body and become life‑threatening.” The study suggests the IL‑1 pathway could become a diagnostic marker for identifying high‑risk patients and a target for new antifungal therapies.

If confirmed in humans, the discovery could improve risk assessment and guide the development of treatments that strengthen protective antifungal immunity.