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Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation
09:49

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation

Published on: October 31, 2019

Medical bioremediation of age-related diseases

Jacques M Mathieu1, John Schloendorn, Bruce E Rittmann

  • 1Dept, of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA. mathieu@rice.edu.

Microbial Cell Factories
|April 11, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Medical bioremediation uses microbial enzymes to remove harmful compounds that accumulate in aging and cause diseases like Alzheimer's. This approach offers a promising alternative to traditional therapies for age-related conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Catabolic insufficiency in humans causes pathogenic compound accumulation, linked to age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.
  • Current therapeutic strategies, including antibodies and endogenous human enzymes, have shown limited efficacy and potential risks to cellular homeostasis.
  • Medical bioremediation presents an alternative strategy by leveraging microbial enzymes to restore catabolic functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • This review explores the potential of medical bioremediation for treating age-related diseases.
  • It identifies specific targets for biodegradation and suitable microbial enzymes.
  • The review also discusses effective enzyme delivery methods for therapeutic applications.

Main Methods:

  • The review synthesizes existing research on catabolic pathways and age-related disease mechanisms.
  • It analyzes the microbial genetic diversity for identifying enzymes with specific degradation capabilities.
  • Methods for enzyme delivery, including potential delivery vectors and strategies, are discussed.

Main Results:

  • Microbial enzymes offer a diverse enzymatic toolkit for degrading a wide range of organic compounds.
  • Specific microbial enzymes can be identified and engineered to target pathogenic compounds associated with age-related diseases.
  • Various enzyme delivery systems are being explored to ensure targeted and effective delivery within the human body.

Conclusions:

  • Medical bioremediation, utilizing microbial enzymes, represents a promising therapeutic avenue for managing age-related diseases.
  • Further research into enzyme discovery, engineering, and delivery systems is crucial for clinical translation.
  • This approach holds potential for augmenting human catabolic functions and mitigating disease progression.

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