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Overview

The Iliev Lab Home Page: http://ilievlab.weill.cornell.edu/

The mammalian gastrointestinal tract is colonized by diverse commensal microbial communities consisting of bacteria, fungi and viruses. The Iliev Laboratoty laboratory studies the interaction between this commensal microbiota and the immune cells at the mucosal surfaces of the body. Our research is specifically focused on understanding the functional consequences of fungal microbiota (mycobiota) composition and metabolism to the host's immunity and to bacterial populations in the gut. In this effort, we have developed in vivo models, model fungal strains and bioinformatics pipelines that aid with tools to study the role of gut fungi in mucosal immunity during health and during conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, allergy and immunosuppression, in which fungi can contribute to pathologies.

Research Areas:

Immunity to Mucosa-Associated Fungi

Diverse fungal communities colonize all mucosal surfaces of the body. While some commensal fungi can be opportunistic pathogens and can lead to serious infections upon a bridge of the mucosal barriers, evidence coming from the lab suggests that a balanced fungal community is necessary for the maintenance of intestinal health.

The Iliev Laboratory is specifically interested in molecular mechanisms by which fungi interact with gut-resident phagocytes and polarize protective adaptive immune responses. Using in vivo murine models lacking immune arms and antifungal receptors, we study the interaction of commensal fungi with the gut immune system during steady state and during colitis. Our final goal is to understand how this interaction is regulated and provide strategies to manipulate these pathways.

Characterization of Intestinal Fungal Communities (Mycobiota) and Their Interaction with Bacteria

Highlights

  1. 1
    Cell · 2022
    IDIliyan D Iliev
    PMID: 36179671PMCID: PMC9564002DOISenior author386 citations
  2. 2
    Nature · 2022
    TKTakato KusakabeEJEllen J ScherlIDIliyan D Iliev
    PMID: 35296857PMCID: PMC9166917DOISenior author295 citations
  3. 3
    Science (New York, N.Y.) · 2018
    IDIliyan D Iliev
    PMID: 29326275PMCID: PMC5805464DOISenior author271 citations

Publications

74 publications

Funding

24 grantsView NIH portfolio on RePORTER ↗

Active

10 grants
  • PI
    Immune mechanisms of fungal influence on the gut-brain axis.
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2026–2031
    R01AI198729-01
  • MPI
    Investigation of gut microbiota metabolite-mediated transkingdom interactions with fungi
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2024–2029
    R01AI178683-03
  • PI
    The role of the mycobiome in cancer
    National Cancer Institute · 2024–2029
    R01CA286920-03
  • PI
    GASTROINTESTINAL FUNGAL INFECTIONS: WHAT SHOULD THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WATCH FOR?
    Burroughs Wellcome Fund · 2020–2027
    BWF 1020451
  • MPI
    Lloyd J. Old STAR Program
    Cancer Research Institute, Inc. · 2022–2027
    CRI 222556-2
  • PI
    Fungal-bacterial interactions: an opportunity for novel treatment of Ulcerative Colitis.
    Kenneth Rainin Foundation · 2024–2027
    KRF 20260154
  • PI
    Regulation and function of mucosal IgA immune responses to mycobiota in the gut.
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2021–2027
    R01AI163007-05
  • PI
    Commensal fungal communities in the regulation of immunity and intestinal inflammation
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2017–2027· 2 renewals
    R01DK113136-09
  • PI
    Mononuclear phagocyte networks in mycobiota regulation and antifungal immunity.
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2020–2027
    R01DK121977-05
  • PI
    Targeting the mycobiome in patients with Crohn’s Disease
    The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust · 2023–2027
    2311-06390
Completed grants (14)
  • PI
    Award #28646 - Identifying mycobiome-derived enteric neuromodulators
    Research Corporation for Science Advancement · 2022–2024
    RCSA 28646
  • Co-I
    Mechanistic Investigation of Gut Mycobiota in the Regulation of Lung Immunity and Disease
    National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2022–2023
    K99HL157691-01A1
  • PI
    Targeting the mycobiome in Crohn's Disease: development of targeting strategy and biomarkers for prospective clinical trial
    Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, The · 2019–2023
    HCT 2004-03879
  • PI
    Investigation of commensal bacteria-produced metabolites with activity towards mycobiota.
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2019–2022
    R21AI146957-02
  • KP
    Regulation of the mycobiota and intestinal inflammation via production of antifungal metabolites by commensal bacteria
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2019–2022Fellowship
    F32DK120228-01
  • PI
    Exploring immunity to fungal microbiota in IBD
    Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America · 2019–2021
    CCFA 6609964
  • KP
    Impact of commensal fungi on the response to immunosuppressive therapy in intestinal diseases Impact of commensal fungi on the response to immunosuppressive therapy in intestinal diseases.
    Charles H. Revson Foundation Inc. · 2019–2021Fellowship
    19-29
  • PI
    SYNERGY AWARDS PROGRAM FOR IBD RESEARCH
    Kenneth Rainin Foundation · 2019–2020
    2017-3131 Phase III
  • PI
    Innate Immune Regulation of Mycobiota During Health and Disease
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2018–2019
    R56AI137157-01
  • PI
    The Kenneth Rainin Foundation Synergy Award Program for IBD Research. Renewal grant
    Kenneth Rainin Foundation · 2018–2019
    2017-3131 Phase II
  • PI
    Mechanisms of Protection by Commensal Fungi in Colitis
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2016–2018
    R00DK098310-05
  • PI
    The Role of Mycobiota During Immunomodulatory Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
    Kenneth Rainin Foundation · 2015–2018
    2016-3058
  • PI
    Impact of immunosuppression therapy on commensal fungi and intestinal disease
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2016–2018
    R21AI123819-02
  • PI
    Mechanisms of Protection by Commensal Fungi in Colitis
    NIDDK · 2014–2016 · via NIH RePORTER
    K99DK098310-02

Clinical research

1 study

Active

1 study
  • PI
    Understanding the Efficacy of Dietary Supplement on Fungal Mycobiota in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot Study
    PHASE4 · Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2024)
    Gut Microbiome; Gut Health; Dietary Supplement; L-Phenylalanine; Phenylpropionic Acid
    NCT06433310

Available technologies

3 technologiesView full WCM portfolio ↗

News mentions

12 mentionsView all WCM news ↗
  • Antifungal Therapy Shows Potential for IBD Patients with Candida Overgrowth
    September 1, 2026

    A commonly used systemic antifungal medication may help reduce symptoms in a subset of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by restoring a healthier gut microbiome, according to a preliminary study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

  • What a Gut Fungus Reveals About Symbiosis and Allergy
    November 27, 2024

    A fungus discovered in the mouse stomach may hold a key to fungal evolution within the gastrointestinal tract, according to new research led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

  • Gut Fungi's Lasting Impact on Severe COVID-19 Immune Response
    October 23, 2023

    Certain gut-dwelling fungi flourish in severe cases of COVID-19, amplifying the excessive inflammation that drives this disease while also causing long-lasting changes in the immune system, according to a new study led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.

  • Grant Awarded to Investigate Antifungal Therapies in Crohn’s Patients
    June 15, 2023

    Dr. Iliyan D. Iliev, an associate professor of immunology in medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, co-director of the Microbiome Core and a member of the Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) at Weill Cornell Medicine, is the lead investigator on a grant to Weill Cornell Medicine from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to target pathogenic fungi in patients with Crohn’s disease.

  • Fungal Association with Tumors May Predict Worse Outcomes
    September 29, 2022

    The presence of some fungal species in tumors predicts—and may even help drive—worse cancer outcomes, according to a study from Weill Cornell Medicine and Duke University researchers.

Show 7 more mentions
  • Awards and Honors – July 29, 2022
    July 29, 2022

    Awards, honors, prizes and achievements for the month of July.

  • Grant Funds Study of the Role of Fungi in Cancer Development and Immunotherapy
    July 18, 2022

    Dr. Iliyan D. Iliev, an associate professor of immunology in medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and a member of the Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been awarded a five-year, $1.25 million CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR (Scientists Taking Risks) Program grant from Cancer Research Institute (CRI).

  • Toxin-producing Yeast Strains in Gut Fuel IBD
    March 16, 2022

    Individual Candida albicans yeast strains in the human gut are as different from each other as the humans that carry them, and some C. albicans strains may damage the gut of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a new study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.

  • Preclinical Study Finds Gut Fungi Influence Neuroimmunity and Behavior
    February 16, 2022

    A specific group of fungi residing in the intestines can protect against intestinal injury and influence social behavior, according to new preclinical research by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine.

  • Antibodies Help Keep Harmful Forms of Gut Fungi in Check
    November 22, 2021

    Antibody protection against harmful forms of fungi in the gut may be disrupted in some patients with Crohn’s disease—a condition caused by chronic inflammation in the bowel—according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

  • Weill Cornell Medicine Scientist Receives Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Award
    November 11, 2020

    Dr. Iliyan Iliev, an associate professor of immunology in medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and a scientist in the Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been awarded the Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease (PATH) award by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.

  • Fungus in Gut May Explain Why Some Ulcerative Colitis Patients Benefit from Fecal Transplant
    May 14, 2020

    Higher levels of a type of fungus in the gut are associated with better outcomes for patients with a type of inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis who are treated with gut microbes from healthy donors.

Media highlights

6 clips
Show 1 more mention

Mentoring

13 menteesAll publications with mentees →
3 PhD students · 10 Postdocs

External relationships

Speaker/Lecturer

American Gastroenterological Association