Programmable probiotics modulate inflammation and gut microbiota for inflammatory bowel disease treatment after effective oral delivery

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex disease that is associated with multiple genetic and environmental variables. Here the authors develop genetically engineered probiotics with selfproducing functional proteins and biofilm self-coating for safe and efficient IBD treatment in mice. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play vital roles in intestinal inflammation. Therefore, eliminating ROS in the inflammatory site by antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase may effectively curb inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Here, Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (ECN), a kind of oral probiotic, was genetically engineered to overexpress catalase and superoxide dismutase (ECN-pE) for the treatment of intestinal inflammation. To improve the bioavailability of ECN-pE in the gastrointestinal tract, chitosan and sodium alginate, effective biofilms, were used to coat ECN-pE via a layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly strategy. In a mouse IBD model induced by different chemical drugs, chitosan/sodium alginate coating ECN-pE (ECN-pE(C/A)(2)) effectively relieved inflammation and repaired epithelial barriers in the colon. Unexpectedly, such engineered EcN-pE(C/A)(2) could also regulate the intestinal microbial communities and improve the abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136 and Odoribacter in the intestinal flora, which are important microbes to maintain intestinal homeostasis. Thus, this study lays a foundation for the development of living therapeutic proteins using probiotics to treat intestinal-related diseases.

Automated summary

In this study, genetically engineered probiotics with self-producing functional proteins and biofilm self-coating were developed for the safe and efficient treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice. The engineered probiotics effectively reduced inflammation, repaired epithelial barriers, and regulated intestinal microbial communities. This study lays a foundation for the development of living therapeutic proteins using probiotics to treat intestinal-related diseases.