Artificially engineered bacteria to treat gastrointestinal disease and cancer

Therapeutics based on living organisms provide a roadmap for next-generation biomedicine. Bacteria have an essential role in the development, regulation, and treatment of gastrointestinal disease and cancer through similar mechanisms. However, primitive bacteria lack the stability to overcome complex drug delivery barriers, and their multifunctionality in reinforcing both conventional and emerging therapeutics is limited. Artificially engineered bacteria (ArtBac) with modified surfaces and genetic functions show promise for tackling these problems. Herein, we discuss recent applications of ArtBac as living biomedicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and tumors. Future perspectives are given to guide the rational design of ArtBac toward safe multifunctional medicine.

Automated summary

Therapeutics based on living organisms provide a roadmap for next-generation biomedicine, and bacteria play a crucial role in the development, regulation, and treatment of gastrointestinal disease and cancer through similar mechanisms. However, primitive bacteria lack stability to overcome complex drug delivery barriers and their multifunctionality is limited. Artificially engineered bacteria (ArtBac) with modified surfaces and genetic functions show promise in addressing these issues.