Engineered bacteria help protect 'good' gut microbes from antibiotics

A study led by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shows that an engineered bacterium can protect the gut microbiome from antibiotic use, reports New Atlas . Mouse studies have shown that the bacteria break down antibiotics in the gut, while still allowing high levels of the drug to enter the bloodstream . Antibiotics are life-saving drugs, but they also damage the beneficial microbes that live in the human gut . To reduce these risks, researchers at MIT have developed a new method to help preserve the natural flora of the human digestive tract . They engineered a human-safe bacterial strain to produce an enzyme that breaks down a class of antibiotics called beta-lactams, including ampicillin, amoxicillin and other commonly used drugs . New technologies could protect beneficial gut microbes and reduce the emergence of new drug-resistant microbes, making antibiotic use safer . Over the past 20 years, research has shown that the microbes in the human gut not only play an important role in metabolism, but are also integral to immune function and nervous system function . Problems arise when interventions such as drugs or specific kinds of diet affect the composition of the microflora and create a state of dysbiosis . Some microbiomes disappeared and others increased metabolic activity . This imbalance can lead to various health problems . 　　A major complication that can occur is infection with Clostridium difficile, a microbe that lives in the gut but usually doesn't cause harm . However, when antibiotics kill off competing strains of C. difficile, those bacteria take over and cause diarrhea and colitis . 　　To protect the microbiome from antibiotics, the researchers engineered a strain of bacteria called Lactococcus lactis, commonly used in cheese production, to produce an enzyme that breaks down beta-lactam antibiotics . 　　When these bacteria are taken orally, they briefly enter the gut, where they secrete beta-lactamases . Next, the enzyme breaks down antibiotics that reach the gut . This approach can also be used with injected antibiotics, which eventually reach the gut as well . After completing the work, the engineered bacteria are excreted through the digestive tract . 　　In a study of mice, the researchers found that when this "living biotherapy" entered the body at the same time as antibiotics, it protected the microflora in the gut, but allowed the antibiotics circulating in the blood to remain high. level . 　　According to the researchers, this is strong evidence that this approach protects the gut microbiota while maintaining the effectiveness of antibiotics . 　　The study also found that removing evolutionary pressures from antibiotic treatment can greatly reduce the likelihood that gut microbes will develop antibiotic resistance following treatment . They did previously find many antibiotic resistance genes in microbes that survived in mice that received antibiotics but not the engineered bacteria . These genes could be passed on to harmful bacteria, exacerbating the problem of antibiotic resistance .   Disclaimer: This article only represents the author's personal opinion and has nothing to do with China Probiotics Network . Its originality and the text and content stated in the text have not been verified by this site, and this site does not make any guarantee or commitment to the authenticity, completeness and timeliness of this text and all or part of its content and text. Readers are only for reference and please Verify the relevant content yourself .   Copyright Notice 1. Some articles reproduced on this site are not original, and their copyright and responsibility belong to the original author . 2. All reprinted articles, links and pictures on this website are for the purpose of conveying more information, and the source and author are clearly indicated. Media or individuals who do not wish to be reprinted can contact us for infringing information that can provide sufficient evidence. , bio149 will be deleted within 12 hours after confirmation . 3. Users are welcome to submit original articles to 86371366@qq. com, which will be published on the homepage after review, and the copyright and responsibility of the articles belong to the sender .

A study led by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shows that an engineered bacterium can protect the gut microbiome from antibiotic use, reports New Atlas
.
Mouse studies have shown that the bacteria break down antibiotics in the gut, while still allowing high levels of the drug to enter the bloodstream
.


　　Antibiotics are life-saving drugs, but they also damage the beneficial microbes that live in the human gut
.
To reduce these risks, researchers at MIT have developed a new method to help preserve the natural flora of the human digestive tract
.
They engineered a human-safe bacterial strain to produce an enzyme that breaks down a class of antibiotics called beta-lactams, including ampicillin, amoxicillin and other commonly used drugs
.
New technologies could protect beneficial gut microbes and reduce the emergence of new drug-resistant microbes, making antibiotic use safer
.


　　Over the past 20 years, research has shown that the microbes in the human gut not only play an important role in metabolism, but are also integral to immune function and nervous system function
.
Problems arise when interventions such as drugs or specific kinds of diet affect the composition of the microflora and create a state of dysbiosis
.
Some microbiomes disappeared and others increased metabolic activity
.
This imbalance can lead to various health problems
.


　　A major complication that can occur is infection with Clostridium difficile, a microbe that lives in the gut but usually doesn't cause harm
.
However, when antibiotics kill off competing strains of C.
difficile, those bacteria take over and cause diarrhea and colitis
.


　　To protect the microbiome from antibiotics, the researchers engineered a strain of bacteria called Lactococcus lactis, commonly used in cheese production, to produce an enzyme that breaks down beta-lactam antibiotics
.


　　When these bacteria are taken orally, they briefly enter the gut, where they secrete beta-lactamases
.
Next, the enzyme breaks down antibiotics that reach the gut
.
This approach can also be used with injected antibiotics, which eventually reach the gut as well
.
After completing the work, the engineered bacteria are excreted through the digestive tract
.


　　In a study of mice, the researchers found that when this "living biotherapy" entered the body at the same time as antibiotics, it protected the microflora in the gut, but allowed the antibiotics circulating in the blood to remain high.
level
.


　　According to the researchers, this is strong evidence that this approach protects the gut microbiota while maintaining the effectiveness of antibiotics
.


　　The study also found that removing evolutionary pressures from antibiotic treatment can greatly reduce the likelihood that gut microbes will develop antibiotic resistance following treatment
.
They did previously find many antibiotic resistance genes in microbes that survived in mice that received antibiotics but not the engineered bacteria
.
These genes could be passed on to harmful bacteria, exacerbating the problem of antibiotic resistance
.

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A study led by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shows that an engineered bacterium can protect the gut microbiome from antibiotic use, reports New Atlas
.
Mouse studies have shown that the bacteria break down antibiotics in the gut, while still allowing high levels of the drug to enter the bloodstream
.


　　Antibiotics are life-saving drugs, but they also damage the beneficial microbes that live in the human gut
.
To reduce these risks, researchers at MIT have developed a new method to help preserve the natural flora of the human digestive tract
.
They engineered a human-safe bacterial strain to produce an enzyme that breaks down a class of antibiotics called beta-lactams, including ampicillin, amoxicillin and other commonly used drugs
.
New technologies could protect beneficial gut microbes and reduce the emergence of new drug-resistant microbes, making antibiotic use safer
.


　　Over the past 20 years, research has shown that the microbes in the human gut not only play an important role in metabolism, but are also integral to immune function and nervous system function
.
Problems arise when interventions such as drugs or specific kinds of diet affect the composition of the microflora and create a state of dysbiosis
.
Some microbiomes disappeared and others increased metabolic activity
.
This imbalance can lead to various health problems
.


　　A major complication that can occur is infection with Clostridium difficile, a microbe that lives in the gut but usually doesn't cause harm
.
However, when antibiotics kill off competing strains of C.
difficile, those bacteria take over and cause diarrhea and colitis
.


　　To protect the microbiome from antibiotics, the researchers engineered a strain of bacteria called Lactococcus lactis, commonly used in cheese production, to produce an enzyme that breaks down beta-lactam antibiotics
.


　　When these bacteria are taken orally, they briefly enter the gut, where they secrete beta-lactamases
.
Next, the enzyme breaks down antibiotics that reach the gut
.
This approach can also be used with injected antibiotics, which eventually reach the gut as well
.
After completing the work, the engineered bacteria are excreted through the digestive tract
.


　　In a study of mice, the researchers found that when this "living biotherapy" entered the body at the same time as antibiotics, it protected the microflora in the gut, but allowed the antibiotics circulating in the blood to remain high.
level
.


　　According to the researchers, this is strong evidence that this approach protects the gut microbiota while maintaining the effectiveness of antibiotics
.


　　The study also found that removing evolutionary pressures from antibiotic treatment can greatly reduce the likelihood that gut microbes will develop antibiotic resistance following treatment
.
They did previously find many antibiotic resistance genes in microbes that survived in mice that received antibiotics but not the engineered bacteria
.
These genes could be passed on to harmful bacteria, exacerbating the problem of antibiotic resistance
.

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