Francesca Di Stefano

Dr. Francesca Di Stefano

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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20 August 2026 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ASAurelio Seidita
Aurelio Seidita
MPMirco Pistone
Mirco Pistone
FLFederica Latteri
Federica Latteri
FSFrancesca Di Stefano
Francesca Di Stefano
PMPasquale Mansueto
Pasquale Mansueto
ACAntonio Carroccio
Antonio Carroccio
Background/Objectives: Celiac disease (CeD) is a complex autoimmune enteropathy triggered by gluten intake in genetically predisposed individuals. While the bacterial microbiome has been extensively studied in CeD, the role of the gut virome and mycobiome is less well defined. Emerging evidence suggests that viruses and fungi may influence mucosal immunity, intestinal permeability and gluten tolerance, acting as potential environmental cofactors in the onset of this disease. Methods: A narrative review of the literature was conducted to summarize current knowledge of the composition, development and function of the gut virome and mycobiome and to explore their potential involvement in CeD pathogenesis. Results: The gut virome shows high interindividual variability and dynamic maturation early in life. Multiple studies have associated early enterovirus or parechovirus infections with an increased risk of celiac autoimmunity, supporting a virus–gluten “double hit” model. Viral dysbiosis in CeD has been reported to include an enrichment of human polyomavirus 2 (JC polyomavirus) and of specific enterobacterial phages. The mycobiome, although less abundant, also displays disease-associated alterations: cross-sectional mycobiome studies have reported higher relative abundance of Saccharomyces, Candida, and Tricholomataceae and lower relative abundance of Pichia and Pneumocystis taxa in children with CeD. Conclusions: Current evidence, although preliminary, supports associations between selected viral exposures and CeD-related immune alterations, whereas current phageome and mycobiome findings mainly describe cross-sectional compositional differences. These data do not establish temporal direction or causality, and further longitudinal and mechanistic investigations are required before preventive or therapeutic implications can be considered.

6 November 2026 in European Journal of Internal Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
ASAurelio Seidita
Aurelio Seidita
RBRoberta Barbaraci
Roberta Barbaraci
FLFederica Latteri
Federica Latteri
AGAntonino Giulio Giannone
Antonino Giulio Giannone
AVAlessandra Vassiliadis
Alessandra Vassiliadis
PMPasquale Mansueto
Pasquale Mansueto