<i>Candida albicans</i> colonization modulates murine ethanol consumption and behavioral responses through elevation of serum prostaglandin E ₂ and impact on the striatal dopamine system

<i>Candida albicans</i> is a commensal yeast that is found in the gut of most individuals. <i>C. albicans</i> has been shown to contribute to alcoholic liver disease. Outside of this, the impact of intestinal fungi on alcohol use disorder (AUD) had been unstudied. As AUD is a complex disorder characterized by high relapse rates and there are only three FDA-approved therapies for the maintenance of abstinence, it is important to study novel AUD contributors to find new therapeutic targets. Here, we show that an intestinal fungus, <i>C. albicans</i>, can alter mammalian ethanol consumption through an immune modulator, prostaglandin E₂. The results highlight novel contributors to AUD-related phenotypes and further implicate the gut-brain axis in AUD. Future studies could lead to new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of AUD.