Engineered Probiotics for Colitis Therapy by Improving Intestinal Colonization and Scavenging ROS

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Microbiology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Probiotics show potential for colitis treatment but face challenges with colonization and survival due to oxidative stress.
• Colorectal oxidative stress limits the efficacy of conventional probiotic therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer probiotics for enhanced colonization and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging in colitis.
• To develop a microgel coating on probiotics to improve their stability and therapeutic efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Surface modification of *Lactobacillus rhamnosus* (LAB) with thiol groups.
• Preparation of dynamic microgels (LAB-gel) on LAB surfaces using alpha-lipoic acid and sodium thioctate.
• Coating LAB-gel with a lipid bilayer for enhanced stability in gastric conditions.

Main Results:

• Engineered probiotics demonstrated enhanced survival against oxidative stress (H2O2).
• Successful colonization of the colon and significant uptake by macrophages were observed.
• Engineered probiotics effectively scavenged intracellular ROS and showed therapeutic benefits for colitis.

Conclusions:

• Surface-engineered probiotics with microgel coatings offer improved colonization and ROS scavenging capabilities.
• These engineered probiotics present a promising strategy for the effective treatment of colitis.