Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed. In fungal biology, this often involves fungi living on or within a host organism without causing it any harm.
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Commensalism involves an interaction where only one organism benefits while the other remains unaffected.
In fungi, commensal relationships can be seen with certain species that live on human skin or within other organisms without causing disease.
Unlike parasitism, commensal fungi do not harm their hosts and may even provide some indirect benefits, such as occupying space that might otherwise be taken by harmful pathogens.
Examples of commensal fungi include some yeast species found in the human microbiome.
Understanding commensal relationships in fungi helps differentiate between harmless and pathogenic interactions.