US20250360174
2025-11-27
Human necessities
A61K35/742
An innovative approach using genetically modified Bacillus subtilis has been developed to treat intestinal inflammation. The engineered bacterium's genome incorporates a multi-enzyme element comprising class I β-agarase, class II β-agarase, and α-neoagaro-diohydrolase. These enzymes facilitate the breakdown of agarose into active oligosaccharides and monosaccharides, which possess therapeutic properties for intestinal health. The application includes the creation of an engineered biofilm based on this bacterium and living materials for treating intestinal inflammation in mice.
This development falls within molecular biology, focusing on engineered bacteria, biofilms, and living materials derived from Bacillus subtilis. The primary goal is to leverage these engineered biological systems to address prevalent health issues such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), offering a novel treatment modality that bypasses the limitations of traditional pharmacological interventions.
IBD is a significant health concern, often leading to severe gastrointestinal symptoms and potential cancer risks. Current treatments involve drugs with limited efficacy and possible severe side effects. Dietary interventions have been explored as an alternative but lack consistency in outcomes. The degradation of agarose into bioactive compounds by engineered microbes offers a promising dietary therapy for managing IBD by enhancing the gut microbiota's ability to produce therapeutic substances.
The engineered bacterium, identified as strain BS2024E1E2E3, is deposited with the China Center for Type Culture Collection under number CCTCC M 2024966. This strain displays a cascade catalysis capability through its multi-enzyme elements, converting agarose into beneficial oligosaccharides. The application also includes an engineered biofilm composed of these bacteria and their secretions, providing a robust system for enzyme display and therapeutic action within the gastrointestinal tract.
The engineered bacterium and biofilm are designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the gastrointestinal environment. By continuously producing oligosaccharides and monosaccharides with anti-inflammatory properties, they offer a targeted treatment approach for IBD. This method represents a shift towards using probiotics as living therapeutics capable of precise biotransformation processes within the body, potentially improving treatment outcomes for patients with intestinal inflammation.