It is the dream of countless people when I was a child. British researchers recently developed a genetically modified gut bacteria that synthesizes a special protein to help treat host diseases such as colitis as long as its mammalian hosts eat sugar.
The British Food Research Institute recently issued a press release saying that the agency’s researchers genetically modified an intestinal bacteria called Bacteroides ovalogue, so that as long as it contacts a special kind of sugar, xylan, it will Generates a protein called "KGF-2", which helps repair damaged gut cells.
Animal experiments show that this method can treat a series of intestinal diseases such as colitis. After ingestion of xylan in rats containing this bacterium, intestinal hemorrhage was reduced, recovery of intestinal tissue was accelerated, and the risk of intestinal inflammation was reduced. In addition, the trial also showed that this method can help prevent intestinal diseases.
The communique said that this method has several advantages. First, it is highly efficient. If drugs are taken orally as usual, the drugs will be digested before they reach the large intestine, and the modified "Bacteroides ovalis" can be directly in the intestine. Pathogenic lesions produce "KGF-2" protein, which has a very good therapeutic effect. The second is that there are no side effects. Third, the patient can control the "dosage amount" simply by taking the amount of sugar.
The researchers said that they will conduct human clinical trials next, and will also try to use bacteria to produce proteins that can treat other diseases.