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These bacteria hacked your intestine:
The human intestine is home to nearly 100. In addition, 000 billion bacteria, a complex ecosystem that influences our health far beyond simple digestion. Furthermore, Today. Furthermore, Stanford scientists take a decisive step by transforming some of these bacteria into real living pharmaceutical factories, paving the way for personalized medicine of a completely new genre.
When bacteria become therapeutic allies – These bacteria hacked your intestine
The revolutionary concept developed by the Stanford team is based on a daring idea: rather than fighting intestinal bacteria. Therefore, why not reprogram them so that they produce their own drugs directly in our body? Furthermore, This biomimetic approach exploits the fact that our intestinal microbiome is already a natural biochemical laboratory of unequaled complexity.
The researchers set their sights on Phocaeicola Vopptus, a bacteria already naturally present in the human intestine. Moreover, Their objective: to these bacteria hacked your intestine transform it into a destructive of Oxalate. Therefore, this molecule responsible for the formation of formidable kidney stones which affect millions of people in the world.
Sophisticated genetic engineering – These bacteria hacked your intestine
The genetic modification of Phocaeicola Vopptus is a real biotechnological tour de force. For example, Scientists have introduced into its genome the ability to effectively decompose the oxalate. Meanwhile, while making the bacteria dependent on a specific nutrient: porphyrane, derived from seaweed.
This nutritional dependence constitutes an ingenious security mechanism. By controlling porphyrane intake. doctors can modulate the bacterial population: increase nutrient to stimulate the growth of therapeutic bacteria, or reduce it to gradually eliminate them from the body. This system offers precise control over treatment, an essential feature for any medical application.
Promising but contrasting results
The first tests on rats gave spectacular results. Animals fed with an oxalate these bacteria hacked your intestine -rich diet saw their urinary concentration of oxalate fall by 47% after colonization by modified bacteria. Even more impressive. during simulations of bariatric surgery – known to cause hyperoxaluria in humans – therapeutic bacteria have completely neutralized the increase in normally observed oxalate.
The clinical trial carried out on 39 healthy volunteers. whose details are reported in the journal Science, has confirmed the feasibility of the concept in humans. Colonization has proven to be a dose-dependent and generally reversible, demonstrating that the nutritional control system worked as expected. However, two participants kept the changed bacteria even after stopping treatment, revealing an unexpected problem.
Bacteroids with artificial degradation of oxalate reduce urinary oxalate in models of congenital hyperthyroidism in rats. Credit: Science (2025).
The challenges of genetic mutation
This unpredictable persistence hides a fascinating but worrying phenomenon: modified bacteria can exchange genetic material with their intestinal neighbors. a natural process called horizontal transfer of genes. These mutations can alter the therapeutic properties of bacteria or give them independence from the nutritional control system.
In patients with enteric hyperoxaluria – a pathology characterized by excessive absorption of oxalate – the results have. proven to be more mixed. Six out of nine participants showed an average reduction of 27% of urinary oxalates. an encouraging but statistically non -significant progress due to the reduced size of the sample.
A window on the future of medicine
Beyond the specific treatment of kidney stones. this these bacteria hacked your intestine research opens up revolutionary perspectives for the medicine of the future. The principle of transforming our own microbiome into personalized pharmacy could apply to a multitude of pathologies: metabolic disorders. inflammatory diseases, enzymatic deficiencies, or even certain cancers.
The conceptual advantage is considerable: rather than administering external drugs requiring repeated doses. the treatment unfolds continuously, directly where it is necessary, with natural biological precision. This approach could reduce systemic side effects while maximizing therapeutic efficiency.
The next stages of development
Despite the identified challenges, Stanford’s researchers remain optimistic. Their study proves that controlled and prolonged colonization with genetically modified bacteria remains possible and safe in humans. Future research will focus on improving control mechanisms and reducing the risk of unwanted mutations.
This advance potentially marks the beginning of a new era where our own intestinal bacteria would become our most intimate therapeutic partners. these bacteria hacked your intestine radically transforming our approach to medical treatment and paving the way for truly personalized medicine.
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