Jiang Jiani, Ma Yi, Zhou Liang, Han Wenfang, Liang Ying, Dong Jiangyan, Ding Yuqin, Li Wen, Lei Qi, Li Jiangtao, Zhu Wei, Lin Qinlu
National Engineering Research Center of Rice and Byproduct Deep Processing, College of Food Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, 410004, P. R. China.
MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, P. R. China.
Adv Mater. 2025 Jul;37(30):e2417050. doi: 10.1002/adma.202417050. Epub 2025 Jun 1.
Live bacterial therapeutics (LBT) hold significant promise for treating ulcerative colitis (UC) by utilizing engineered microorganisms to restore mucosal barrier function, modulate microbiota imbalances, and enhance immunity. However, challenges such as low bacterial survival under harsh gastrointestinal conditions, difficulties in achieving long-term colonization, and unclear therapeutic targets limit their effectiveness. To address these issues, a novel approach is proposed that integrates genetic and chemical engineering for intestinal flora regulation in UC treatment. This strategy employs bacterial programmability and gene editing to produce bactericidal agents that dynamically modulate the intestinal microecology and utilize controlled chemical modifications to enhance bacterial resistance. Using Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) as a model, a polyelectrolyte composite coating is developed that significantly increased bacterial survival in the gastrointestinal tract-40-fold in the stomach and 74-fold in the small intestine. Additionally, EcN::mcmA is engineered to overproduce iron-carrier microcins (MccM) with a "Trojan horse" mechanism to target and disrupt pathogenic bacteria. In a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse UC model, EcN::mcmA@P/O treatment effectively reduced inflammation and improved intestinal flora regulation, presenting a promising and potentially safer long-term solution for UC.
活细菌疗法(LBT)通过利用工程微生物来恢复粘膜屏障功能、调节微生物群失衡和增强免疫力,在治疗溃疡性结肠炎(UC)方面具有重大前景。然而,诸如在恶劣的胃肠道条件下细菌存活率低、难以实现长期定植以及治疗靶点不明确等挑战限制了它们的有效性。为了解决这些问题,提出了一种新方法,该方法整合基因工程和化学工程用于UC治疗中的肠道菌群调节。这种策略利用细菌可编程性和基因编辑来产生动态调节肠道微生态的杀菌剂,并利用可控的化学修饰来增强细菌抗性。以大肠杆菌Nissle 1917(EcN)为模型,开发了一种聚电解质复合涂层,该涂层显著提高了细菌在胃肠道中的存活率——在胃中提高了40倍,在小肠中提高了74倍。此外,对EcN::mcmA进行工程改造,使其通过“特洛伊木马”机制过量产生铁载体微菌素(MccM),以靶向并破坏病原菌。在葡聚糖硫酸钠(DSS)诱导的小鼠UC模型中,EcN::mcmA@P/O治疗有效减轻了炎症并改善了肠道菌群调节,为UC提供了一种有前景且可能更安全的长期解决方案。