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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Transformation of Probiotic Yeast and Their Recovery from Gastrointestinal Immune Tissues Following Oral Gavage in Mice

Transformation of Probiotic Yeast and Their Recovery from Gastrointestinal Immune Tissues Following Oral Gavage in Mice

Published on: February 8, 2016

Engineered probiotics that sequester arsenite in a mouse gastrointestinal system.

Nhu Nguyen¹, Miaomiao Wang¹, Sithembio S Msibi²

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology

|February 6, 2026

Summary

Engineered probiotics can intercept toxic arsenite in the gut, preventing its absorption into the bloodstream. This synthetic biology approach offers a novel strategy to mitigate health risks from contaminated food and water.

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Probiotic Studies in Neonatal Mice Using Gavage

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Published on: January 27, 2019

Area of Science:

Synthetic biology
Microbial therapeutics
Environmental toxicology

Background:

Chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic (arsenite) in food and water is a global health concern.
Arsenite is readily absorbed and accumulates in tissues, leading to cancer, organ dysfunction, and neurological disorders.
Current strategies lack practical methods to prevent dietary arsenite absorption in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a synthetic biology-based approach using engineered probiotics to sequester arsenite within the GI tract.
To create a living arsenite-interception system for preventing systemic absorption of dietary toxicants.
To establish a programmable probiotic platform for mitigating arsenite exposure.

Main Methods:

Engineered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) with an arsenite-responsive genetic toggle switch and a modified arsenite-binding protein (ArsR) for sequestration.
Developed a mass-transfer model to predict optimal bacterial dosage for in vivo application.
Tested the engineered EcN strain in a mouse GI model to assess arsenite absorption reduction.

Main Results:

Engineered EcN efficiently removed arsenite in vitro while maintaining cell viability and growth.
The mass-transfer model guided the selection of a bacterial dose that significantly reduced lumenal arsenite.
Oral administration of engineered EcN in mice markedly reduced arsenite entry into the bloodstream compared to controls.

Conclusions:

Engineered probiotics can effectively intercept dietary arsenite within the GI tract.
This programmable probiotic platform demonstrates a potential strategy for preventing absorption of environmental toxicants.
Living microbial therapeutics offer a novel approach to combat health risks associated with arsenic contamination.