Luo Zhaowei, Qi Zhanghua, Luo Jie, Chen Tingtao
School of Huankui Academy, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, Jiangxi, China.
Authors contributed equally.
Microbiome Res Rep. 2024 Dec 17;4(1):10. doi: 10.20517/mrr.2024.57. eCollection 2025.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host when administered in appropriate quantities. This beneficial effect has spurred extensive research in the medical and health fields. With rapid advancements in synthetic biology, the genetic and biological characteristics of a broad array of probiotics have been elucidated. Utilizing these insights, genetic editing technologies now enable the precise modification of probiotics, leading to the development of engineered bacteria. Emerging evidence underscores the significant potential of these engineered bacteria in disease management. This review explores the methodologies for creating engineered bacteria, their preliminary applications in healthcare, and the mechanisms underlying their functions. Engineered bacteria are being developed for roles such as drug delivery systems, biosensors, and mucosal vaccines, thereby contributing to the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of conditions including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), metabolic disorders, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. The review concludes by assessing the advantages and limitations of engineered bacteria in the context of disease management.
益生菌是一类活的微生物，当以适当数量给予宿主时，能为宿主带来健康益处。这种有益作用在医学和健康领域引发了广泛研究。随着合成生物学的迅速发展，大量益生菌的遗传和生物学特性已被阐明。利用这些见解，基因编辑技术现在能够对益生菌进行精确改造，从而催生了工程菌的开发。新出现的证据强调了这些工程菌在疾病管理方面的巨大潜力。本综述探讨了创建工程菌的方法、它们在医疗保健中的初步应用以及其功能背后的机制。正在开发用于药物递送系统、生物传感器和黏膜疫苗等角色的工程菌，从而有助于治疗、诊断和预防包括炎症性肠病（IBD）、代谢紊乱、癌症和神经退行性疾病在内的病症。综述最后评估了工程菌在疾病管理背景下的优势和局限性。
