Yeast & Fungi Screening at Bactera

With Bactera Microbiome 360° Premium package you get screening for yeast and fungi. It is important because the gut microbiome is not only made of bacteria. Yeasts and fungi (the mycobiome) are a natural part of the intestinal ecosystem and can strongly influence digestion, immunity, skin health, and inflammation. These organisms are invisible to traditional 16S tests and can only be reliably detected with shotgun DNA sequencing, which reads all genetic material in the sample.

Fungal imbalance often develops after antibiotics, high-sugar diets, chronic stress, or immune suppression. It can contribute to bloating, histamine intolerance, skin flares, recurrent infections, and symptoms that resemble IBS. Our screening helps distinguish normal colonization from potentially problematic overgrowth and supports targeted dietary or medical strategies.

How to understand the result

DNA sequencing is a highly sensitive method that can detect fungal and yeast DNA even at very low levels.

The presence of fungal DNA does not indicate an active infection or disease. Many yeasts and fungi can naturally occur in the gastrointestinal tract or be temporarily present without causing symptoms. These findings represent microbial signals within your gut ecosystem and should not be interpreted on their own as clinically relevant.

If you experience symptoms, a qualified healthcare professional may recommend appropriate clinical diagnostic tests to evaluate a potential fungal infection. This analysis is intended for informational and research purposes only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment.

List of yeast and fungi we screen for:

1. BENEFICIAL & COMMENSAL YEASTS

Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Role: common dietary yeast; part of normal gut exposure.
Importance: usually harmless; may support immune balance in moderate amounts.

Saccharomyces boulardii
Role: probiotic yeast used against diarrhea.
Importance: generally beneficial; presence may reflect supplementation.

Debaryomyces hansenii
Role: food-associated yeast found in fermented products.
Importance: typically non-pathogenic, marker of diet exposure.

Kluyveromyces marxianus
Role: dairy-associated yeast.
Importance: usually harmless; rarely linked to intolerance in sensitive individuals.

2. CANDIDA SPECIES

Candida albicans
Symptoms: bloating, sugar cravings, oral or genital thrush, fatigue.
Triggers/Transmission: overgrowth after antibiotics, high sugar intake, weakened immunity.

Candida glabrata
Symptoms: persistent mucosal infections, urinary or gut irritation.
Triggers: antibiotic use, chronic illness, hospital exposure.

Candida tropicalis
Symptoms: diarrhea, abdominal discomfort in vulnerable patients.
Transmission: endogenous overgrowth, medical devices.

Candida parapsilosis
Symptoms: gut and skin irritation, hospital-acquired infections.
Transmission: healthcare environments, weakened immunity.

3. OTHER YEASTS

Geotrichum candidum
Symptoms: bloating, rare opportunistic infections.
Transmission: dairy products, endogenous growth.

Rhodotorula mucilaginosa
Symptoms: usually asymptomatic; can affect immunosuppressed.
Transmission: environmental yeast, moist surfaces.

4. SKIN-ASSOCIATED MALASSEZIA

Malassezia restricta / globosa
Symptoms: linked to eczema, dandruff, histamine reactions, gut-skin axis issues.
Transmission: normal skin yeast that can influence gut inflammation.

5. MOLD & OPPORTUNISTIC FUNGI

Aspergillus fumigatus / niger
Symptoms: respiratory allergies, gut irritation in sensitive people.
Transmission: environmental spores, damp buildings.

Penicillium spp.
Symptoms: allergic reactions, mycotoxin exposure concerns.
Transmission: indoor mold, food storage.

Cladosporium spp.
Symptoms: allergy-related gut and respiratory symptoms.
Transmission: common indoor/outdoor mold.

Mucor spp. / Rhizopus spp.
Symptoms: rare but serious infections in immunosuppressed.
Transmission: soil, decaying organic matter.

Cryptococcus spp.
Symptoms: opportunistic systemic infections in vulnerable hosts.
Transmission: bird droppings, environment.

Trichosporon spp.
Symptoms: gut dysbiosis, rare invasive disease.
Transmission: endogenous overgrowth.