Volume 16 Issue 6, June 2019

A new study provides mechanistic insight into the carcinogenic potential of human colonic mucosal microbial biofilms, confirming that both microbiota composition and organization along with the host inflammatory response are contributing factors to creating the ‘perfect storm’ in terms of colorectal carcinogenesis.

The authors review the newest data on the gut fungal microbiota. They explore technical aspects of its analysis, how the mycobiome is influenced by immune and environmental factors, including fungi–bacteria interactions, and links between the mycobiota and gut diseases.

Neonatal cholestasis is a group of disorders of impaired bile flow characterized by conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia that can be fatal if not treated rapidly. In this Review, aetiologies, algorithms for evaluation and current and emerging therapeutic options for neonatal cholestasis are discussed.

Ganesh et al. describe the rationale for using immunotherapy in select patients with colorectal cancer, discuss clinical findings supporting its use and highlight current strategies and future directions for expanding the scope of immunotherapy in this disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was first described four decades ago, but it is increasingly important owing to its high prevalence in the general population. This Perspective provides an overview on the development of knowledge related to NAFLD, focusing on landmark findings.