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Bastings JJAJ, Venema K, Blaak EE, Adam TC. Influence of the gut microbiota on satiety signaling. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:243-255. [PMID: 36870872 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies show a link between the gut microbiota and the regulation of satiety and energy intake, processes that contribute to the development and pathophysiology of metabolic diseases. However, this link is predominantly established in animal and in vitro studies, whereas human intervention studies are scarce. In this review we focus on recent evidence linking satiety and the gut microbiome, with specific emphasis on gut microbial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Based on a systematic search we provide an overview of human studies linking the intake of prebiotics with gut microbial alterations and satiety signaling. Our outcomes highlight the importance of in-depth examination of the gut microbiota in relation to satiety and provide insights into recent and future studies in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacco J A J Bastings
- Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Koen Venema
- Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Centre for Healthy Eating and Food Innovation, Maastricht University, Campus Venlo, Venlo, The Netherlands
| | - Ellen E Blaak
- Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Tanja C Adam
- Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Kabisch S, Weickert MO, Pfeiffer AFH. The role of cereal soluble fiber in the beneficial modulation of glycometabolic gastrointestinal hormones. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 64:4331-4347. [PMID: 36382636 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2141190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
According to cohort studies, cereal fiber, and whole-grain products might decrease risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM), inflammatory processes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. These associations, mainly affect insoluble, but not soluble cereal fiber. In intervention studies, soluble fiber elicit anti-hyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory short-term effects, partially explained by fermentation to short-chain fatty acids, which acutely counteract insulin resistance and inflammation. ß-glucans lower cholesterol levels and possibly reduce liver fat. Long-term benefits are not yet shown, maybe caused by T2DM heterogeneity, as insulin resistance and fatty liver disease - the glycometabolic points of action of soluble cereal fiber - are not present in every patient. Thus, only some patients might be susceptive to fiber. Also, incretin action in response to fiber could be a relevant factor for variable effects. Thus, this review aims to summarize the current knowledge from human studies on the impact of soluble cereal fiber on glycometabolic gastrointestinal hormones. Effects on GLP-1 appear to be highly contradictory, while these fibers might lower GIP and ghrelin, and increase PYY and CCK. Even though previous results of specific trials support a glycometabolic benefit of soluble fiber, larger acute, and long-term mechanistic studies are needed in order to corroborate the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Kabisch
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung e.V, Geschäftsstelle am Helmholtz-Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martin O Weickert
- Warwickshire Institute for the Study of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism; The ARDEN NET Centre, ENETS CoE, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK
- Centre of Applied Biological & Exercise Sciences (ABES), Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
- Translational & Experimental Medicine, Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Andreas F H Pfeiffer
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Diabetesforschung e.V, Geschäftsstelle am Helmholtz-Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
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Zhang Y, Li X, Huang G, Wang H, Chen H, Su Y, Yu K, Zhu W. Propionate stimulates the secretion of satiety hormones and reduces acute appetite in a cecal fistula pig model. ANIMAL NUTRITION 2022; 10:390-398. [PMID: 35949198 PMCID: PMC9356018 DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) can regulate appetite by stimulating the secretion of satiety hormones. However, the impact of short-chain fatty acid propionate on the release of gut satiety hormones and appetite regulation in pigs is not completely understood. In this study, 16 pigs were infused with saline or sodium propionate through a fistula in the caecum during a 28-day experimental period. We characterized the effects of propionate administration on peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretion from colonic tissue, and investigated the role of propionate infusion on the expression of appetite-related genes in the colon and hypothalamus. Further, the direct impact of propionate administration on the expression of orexigenic neuropeptide agouti-related protein (AgRP) in hypothalamic N38 cells was also examined. The results showed that intra-cecal infusion of propionate reduced the short-term feed intake (P < 0.05) but not the long-term feed intake in pigs (P > 0.05). Propionate administration stimulated PYY and GLP-1 release from colon tissue in vivo and ex vivo (P < 0.05). It also upregulated PYY expression in the colonic mucosa (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the GLP-1 and PYY levels in the blood were increased after intra-cecal infusion of propionate at d 28 (P < 0.05). Additionally, intra-cecal infusion of propionate upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of free fatty acid receptor 2/3 (FFAR2/FFAR3) in the colonic mucosa (P < 0.05). Propionate infusion also downregulated the orexigenic AgRP mRNA expression (P < 0.05) and upregulated the anorexigenic cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) mRNA expression (P = 0.09) in the hypothalamus. Moreover, propionate administration directly downregulated AgRP expression in hypothalamic N38 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Collectively, these findings demonstrated that cecal propionate stimulated colonic secretion of satiety hormones and suppressed appetite to reduce the short-term feed intake in pigs. This study highlights that microbial-derived propionate exerts an important role in regulating the physical functions of the host.
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He Z, Ma Y, Chen X, Yang S, Zhang S, Liu S, Xiao J, Wang Y, Wang W, Yang H, Li S, Cao Z. Temporal Changes in Fecal Unabsorbed Carbohydrates Relative to Perturbations in Gut Microbiome of Neonatal Calves: Emerging of Diarrhea Induced by Extended-Spectrum β-lactamase-Producing Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:883090. [PMID: 35875583 PMCID: PMC9301005 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.883090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Early gut microbiota development and colonization are crucial for the long-term health and performance of ruminants. However, cognition among these microbiota is still vague, particularly among the neonatal dairy calves. Here, extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing enteroaggregative E. coli (ESBL-EAEC)-induced temporal changes in diversity, stability, and composition of gut microbiota were investigated among the neonatal female calves, with the view of discerning potential biomarkers of this arising diarrhea cases in local pastures. Nearly, 116 newborn calves were enrolled in this time period study during their first 2 weeks of life, and a total of 40 selected fecal samples from corresponding calves were used in this study. The results revealed that differentiated gut microbiome and metabolome discerned from neonatal calves were accompanied by bacterial infections over time. Commensal organisms like Butyricicoccus, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, Collinsella, and Coriobacterium, as key microbial markers, mainly distinguish “healthy” and “diarrheic” gut microbiome. Random forest machine learning algorithm indicated that enriched fecal carbohydrates, including rhamnose and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and abundant short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) existed in healthy ones. In addition, Spearman correlation results suggested that the presence of Butyricicoccus, Faecalibacterium, Collinsella, and Coriobacterium, key commensal bacteria of healthy calves, is positively related to high production of unabsorbed carbohydrates, SCFAs, and other prebiotics, and negatively correlated to increased concentrations of lactic acid, hippuric acid, and α-linolenic acid. Our data suggested that ESBL-EAEC-induced diarrhea in female calves could be forecasted by alterations in the gut microbiome and markedly changed unabsorbed carbohydrates in feces during early lives, which might be conducive to conduct early interventions to ameliorate clinical symptoms of diarrhea induced by the rising prevalence of ESBL-EAEC.
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Vinelli V, Biscotti P, Martini D, Del Bo’ C, Marino M, Meroño T, Nikoloudaki O, Calabrese FM, Turroni S, Taverniti V, Unión Caballero A, Andrés-Lacueva C, Porrini M, Gobbetti M, De Angelis M, Brigidi P, Pinart M, Nimptsch K, Guglielmetti S, Riso P. Effects of Dietary Fibers on Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Gut Microbiota Composition in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14132559. [PMID: 35807739 PMCID: PMC9268559 DOI: 10.3390/nu14132559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing interest in investigating dietary strategies able to modulate the gut microbial ecosystem which, in turn, may play a key role in human health. Dietary fibers (DFs) are widely recognized as molecules with prebiotic effects. The main objective of this systematic review was to: (i) analyze the results available on the impact of DF intervention on short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production; (ii) evaluate the interplay between the type of DF intervention, the gut microbiota composition and its metabolic activities, and any other health associated outcome evaluated in the host. To this aim, initially, a comprehensive database of literature on human intervention studies assessing the effect of confirmed and candidate prebiotics on the microbial ecosystem was developed. Subsequently, studies performed on DFs and analyzing at least the impact on SCFA levels were extracted from the database. A total of 44 studies from 42 manuscripts were selected for the analysis. Among the different types of fiber, inulin was the DF investigated the most (n = 11). Regarding the results obtained on the ability of fiber to modulate total SCFAs, seven studies reported a significant increase, while no significant changes were reported in five studies, depending on the analytical methodology used. A total of 26 studies did not show significant differences in individual SCFAs, while the others reported significant differences for one or more SCFAs. The effect of DF interventions on the SCFA profile seemed to be strictly dependent on the dose and the type and structure of DFs. Overall, these results underline that, although affecting microbiota composition and derived metabolites, DFs do not produce univocal significant increase in SCFA levels in apparently healthy adults. In this regard, several factors (i.e., related to the study protocols and analytical methods) have been identified that could have affected the results obtained in the studies evaluated. Future studies are needed to better elucidate the relationship between DFs and gut microbiota in terms of SCFA production and impact on health-related markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vinelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (V.V.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.M.); (V.T.); (M.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Paola Biscotti
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (V.V.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.M.); (V.T.); (M.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Daniela Martini
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (V.V.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.M.); (V.T.); (M.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Cristian Del Bo’
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (V.V.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.M.); (V.T.); (M.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Mirko Marino
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (V.V.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.M.); (V.T.); (M.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Tomás Meroño
- Biomarkers and Nutrimetabolomics Laboratory, Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, Food Innovation Net (XIA), Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (T.M.); (A.U.C.); (C.A.-L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga Nikoloudaki
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; (O.N.); (M.G.)
| | - Francesco Maria Calabrese
- Department of Soil Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy; (F.M.C.); (M.D.A.)
| | - Silvia Turroni
- Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Valentina Taverniti
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (V.V.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.M.); (V.T.); (M.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Andrea Unión Caballero
- Biomarkers and Nutrimetabolomics Laboratory, Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, Food Innovation Net (XIA), Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (T.M.); (A.U.C.); (C.A.-L.)
| | - Cristina Andrés-Lacueva
- Biomarkers and Nutrimetabolomics Laboratory, Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, Food Innovation Net (XIA), Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (T.M.); (A.U.C.); (C.A.-L.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marisa Porrini
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (V.V.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.M.); (V.T.); (M.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Marco Gobbetti
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen, 39100 Bolzano, Italy; (O.N.); (M.G.)
| | - Maria De Angelis
- Department of Soil Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy; (F.M.C.); (M.D.A.)
| | - Patrizia Brigidi
- Microbiomics Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Mariona Pinart
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany; (M.P.); (K.N.)
| | - Katharina Nimptsch
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany; (M.P.); (K.N.)
| | - Simone Guglielmetti
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (V.V.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.M.); (V.T.); (M.P.); (S.G.)
| | - Patrizia Riso
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (V.V.); (P.B.); (D.M.); (C.D.B.); (M.M.); (V.T.); (M.P.); (S.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Hughes RL, Alvarado DA, Swanson KS, Holscher HD. The Prebiotic Potential of Inulin-type Fructans: A Systematic Review. Adv Nutr 2021; 13:S2161-8313(22)00074-6. [PMID: 34555168 PMCID: PMC8970830 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmab119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Inulin-type fructans (ITF), including short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS), oligofructose, and inulin, are commonly used fibers that are widely regarded as prebiotic for their ability to be selectively utilized by the intestinal microbiota to confer a health benefit. However, the literature thus far lacks a thorough discussion of the evidence from human clinical trials for the prebiotic effect of ITF, including both effects on the intestinal microbiota composition as well as the intestinal and extraintestinal (e.g., glucose homeostasis, lipids, mineral absorption and bone health, appetite and satiety, inflammation and immune function, and body composition) benefits. Additionally, there is a lack of discussion regarding aspects such as the effect of ITF chain length on its intestinal and extraintestinal effects. The overall objective of this systematic review was to summarize the prebiotic potential of ITF based on the results of human clinical trials in healthy adult populations. Evidence from studies included in the current review suggest that ITF have a prebiotic effect on the intestinal microbiota, promoting the abundances of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Beneficial health effects reported following ITF intake include improved intestinal barrier function, improved laxation, increased insulin sensitivity, decreased triglycerides and an improved lipid profile, increased absorption of calcium and magnesium, and increased satiety. While there is some evidence for differing effects of ITF based on chain length, lack of direct comparisons and detailed descriptions of physicochemical properties limit the ability to draw conclusions from human clinical studies. Future research should focus on elucidating the mechanisms by which the intestinal microbiota mediates or modifies the effects of ITF on human health and the contribution of individual factors such as age and metabolic health to move towards personalization of prebiotic application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley L Hughes
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - David A Alvarado
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | | | - Hannah D Holscher
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA,Division of Nutrition Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
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Harris HC, Morrison DJ, Edwards CA. Impact of the source of fermentable carbohydrate on SCFA production by human gut microbiota in vitro - a systematic scoping review and secondary analysis. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2020; 61:3892-3903. [PMID: 32865002 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1809991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are produced by bacterial fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates (NDC) and have many potential tissue and SCFA specific actions, from providing fuel for colonic cells to appetite regulation. Many studies have described the fermentation of different carbohydrates, often using in vitro batch culture. As evidence-based critical evaluation of substrates selectively promoting production of individual SCFA is lacking, we performed a systematic scoping literature review. Databases were searched to identify relevant papers published between 1900 and 12/06/2016. Search terms included In vitro batch fermentation and In vitro short chain fatty acid production. Articles were considered for essential criteria allowing equivalent comparison of SCFA between NDC. Seventy seven articles were included in the final analysis examining 29 different carbohydrates. After 24-hour fermentation, galacto-oligosaccharide ranked highest for butyrate and total SCFA production and second for acetate production. Rhamnose ranked highest for propionate production. The lowest SCFA production was observed for kiwi fiber, polydextrose, and cellulose. This review demonstrates that choosing a substrate to selectively enhance a specific SCFA is difficult, and the molar proportion of each SCFA produced by individual substrates may be misleading. Instead the rate and ratio of SCFA production should be evaluated in parallel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah C Harris
- Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Douglas J Morrison
- Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Christine A Edwards
- Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Byrne CS, Preston T, Brignardello J, Garcia-Perez I, Holmes E, Frost GS, Morrison DJ. The effect of L-rhamnose on intestinal transit time, short chain fatty acids and appetite regulation: a pilot human study using combined
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breath tests. J Breath Res 2018; 12:046006. [DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/aad3f1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Dou J, Bennett MR. Synthetic Biology and the Gut Microbiome. Biotechnol J 2018; 13:e1700159. [PMID: 28976641 PMCID: PMC5882594 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201700159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining human health. Functions performed by gastrointestinal microbes range from regulating metabolism to modulating immune and nervous system development. Scientists have attempted to exploit this importance through the development of engineered probiotics that are capable of producing and delivering small molecule therapeutics within the gut. However, existing synthetic probiotics are simplistic and fail to replicate the complexity and adaptability of native homeostatic mechanisms. In this review, the ways in which the tools and approaches of synthetic biology have been applied to improve the efficacy of therapeutic probiotics, and the ways in which they might be applied in the future is discussed. Simple devices, such as a bistable switches and integrase memory arrays, have been successfully implemented in the mammalian gut, and models for targeted delivery in this environment have also been developed. In the future, it will be necessary to introduce concepts such as logic-gating and biocontainment mechanisms into synthetic probiotics, as well as to expand the collection of relevant biosensors. Ideally, this will bring us closer to a reality in which engineered therapeutic microbes will be able to accurately diagnose and effectively respond to a variety of disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Dou
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
| | - Matthew R. Bennett
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
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