1
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de Lorenzo V, Baquero F, Aguilar A. Carlos Asensio and the dawn of molecular microbial ecology. Int Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s10123-024-00596-6. [PMID: 39358586 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-024-00596-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2024] [Revised: 09/07/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
At near 50 years of the discovery of microcins, this article highlights the pivotal-but under-recognised-influence of Spanish biochemist Carlos Asensio (1925-1982) in contemporary microbiology, featuring the epistemological, sociological, and cultural impact of his scientific achievements. At a time when the intestinal microbiome is central to current biomedical research, it is due to emphasise his role in the establishment of new scientific fields that are now considered fundamental. Despite his premature death at the peak of his conceptual and experimental creativity, many of his ideas about microbial communication in complex communities inspired a generation of researchers and opened new topics reach to this day. Asensio was also a trailblazer in Spain, advocating for fundamental research within the socio-economic context of his time. He foresaw the shift towards what is now termed the knowledge-based bioeconomy, recognised the need for multidisciplinary research teams, and advocated integration science into societal and political agendas. These facets became evident during his research on microcins, low molecular weight bioactive compounds produced by enterobacteria. These molecules were hypothesised as mediators of microbial interactions in the human gut and were considered potential new antibiotics and even antitumoral agents. His research mobilised young talent and attracted unprecedented resources in Spain during the late 1970s-early 1980s. It underscored the medical value of microbial ecology and exemplified the benefits of collaboration between academia and industry. Asensio played a pivotal role in the emergence of molecular microbial ecology as a research discipline and its foundational and applied significance in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor de Lorenzo
- Departamento de Biología de Sistemas, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC C/Darwin, 3 Madrid-Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Fernando Baquero
- Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, 28034, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfredo Aguilar
- Directorate-General Research and Innovation (Ret.), European Commission 1049, Brussels, Belgium
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2
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Chamas A, Svensson CM, Maneira C, Sporniak M, Figge MT, Lackner G. Engineering Adhesion of the Probiotic Strain Escherichia coli Nissle to the Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans. ACS Synth Biol 2024. [PMID: 39265099 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
Engineering live biotherapeutic products against fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans has been suggested as a means to tackle the increasing threat of fungal infections and the development of resistance to classical antifungal treatments. One important challenge in the design of live therapeutics is to control their localization inside the human body. The specific binding capability to target organisms or tissues would greatly increase their effectiveness by increasing the local concentration of effector molecules at the site of infection. In this study, we utilized surface display of carbohydrate binding domains to enable the probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917 to adhere specifically to the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. Binding was quantified using a newly developed method based on the automated analysis of microscopic images. In addition to a rationally selected chitin binding domain, a synthetic peptide of identical length but distinct sequence also conferred binding. Efficient binding was specific to fungal hyphae, the invasive form of C. albicans, while the yeast form, as well as abiotic cellulose and PET particles, was only weakly recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Chamas
- Junior Research Group Synthetic Microbiology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena 07745, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena 07743, Germany
| | - Carl-Magnus Svensson
- Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Carla Maneira
- Junior Research Group Synthetic Microbiology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena 07745, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Jena 07743, Germany
- Chair of Biochemistry of Microorganisms, Faculty of Life Sciences: Food Nutrition and Health, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
| | - Marta Sporniak
- Junior Research Group Synthetic Microbiology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Marc Thilo Figge
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena 07743, Germany
- Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena 07745, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Jena 07743, Germany
| | - Gerald Lackner
- Junior Research Group Synthetic Microbiology, Leibniz-Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena 07745, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena 07743, Germany
- Chair of Biochemistry of Microorganisms, Faculty of Life Sciences: Food Nutrition and Health, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
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3
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Srivastava R, González-Prieto C, Lynch JP, Muscolo ME, Lin CY, Brown MA, Lemos L, Shrestha A, Osburne MS, Leong JM, Lesser CF. In situ deposition of nanobodies by an engineered commensal microbe promotes survival in a mouse model of enterohemorrhagic E. coli. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae374. [PMID: 39262854 PMCID: PMC11388102 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Engineered smart microbes that deliver therapeutic payloads are emerging as treatment modalities, particularly for diseases with links to the gastrointestinal tract. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is a causative agent of potentially lethal hemolytic uremic syndrome. Given concerns that antibiotic treatment increases EHEC production of Shiga toxin (Stx), which is responsible for systemic disease, novel remedies are needed. EHEC encodes a type III secretion system (T3SS) that injects Tir into enterocytes. Tir inserts into the host cell membrane, exposing an extracellular domain that subsequently binds intimin, one of its outer membrane proteins, triggering the formation of attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions that promote EHEC mucosal colonization. Citrobacter rodentium (Cr), a natural A/E mouse pathogen, similarly requires Tir and intimin for its pathogenesis. Mice infected with Cr(ΦStx2dact), a variant lysogenized with an EHEC-derived phage that produces Stx2dact, develop intestinal A/E lesions and toxin-dependent disease. Stx2a is more closely associated with human disease. By developing an efficient approach to seamlessly modify the C. rodentium genome, we generated Cr_Tir-MEHEC(ΦStx2a), a variant that expresses Stx2a and the EHEC extracellular Tir domain. We found that mouse precolonization with HS-PROT3EcT-TD4, a human commensal E. coli strain (E. coli HS) engineered to efficiently secrete an anti-EHEC Tir nanobody, delayed bacterial colonization and improved survival after challenge with Cr_Tir-MEHEC(ΦStx2a). This study suggests that commensal E. coli engineered to deliver payloads that block essential virulence determinants can be developed as a new means to prevent and potentially treat infections including those due to antibiotic resistant microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajkamal Srivastava
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Coral González-Prieto
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jason P Lynch
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Michele E Muscolo
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA 02115, USA
| | - Catherine Y Lin
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA 02115, USA
| | - Markus A Brown
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Luisa Lemos
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anishma Shrestha
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Marcia S Osburne
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - John M Leong
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Tufts Stuart B Levy Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Cammie F Lesser
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Ragon Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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4
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Baghdasaryan O, Contreras-Llano LE, Khan S, Wang A, Hu CMJ, Tan C. Fabrication of cyborg bacterial cells as living cell-material hybrids using intracellular hydrogelation. Nat Protoc 2024:10.1038/s41596-024-01035-6. [PMID: 39174659 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-01035-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
The production of living therapeutics, cell-based delivery of drugs and gene-editing tools and the manufacturing of bio-commodities all share a common concept: they use either a synthetic or a living cell chassis to achieve their primary engineering or therapeutic goal. Live-cell chassis face limitations inherent to their auto-replicative nature and the complexity of the cellular context. This limitation highlights the need for a new chassis combining the engineering simplicity of synthetic materials and the functionalities of natural cells. Here, we describe a protocol to assemble a synthetic polymeric network inside bacterial cells, rendering them incapable of cell division and allowing them to resist environmental stressors such as high pH, hydrogen peroxide and cell-wall-targeting antibiotics that would otherwise kill unmodified bacteria. This cellular bioengineering protocol details how bacteria can be transformed into single-lifespan devices that are resistant to environmental stressors and possess programable functionality. We designate the modified bacteria as cyborg bacterial cells. This protocol expands the synthetic biology toolset, conferring precise control over living cells and creating a versatile cell chassis for biotechnology, biomedical engineering and living therapeutics. The protocol, including the preparation of gelation reagents and chassis strain, can be completed in 4 d. The implementation of the protocol requires expertise in microbiology techniques, hydrogel chemistry, fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Further functionalization of the cyborg bacterial cells and adaptation of the protocol requires skills ranging from synthetic genetic circuit engineering to hydrogel polymerization chemistries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis E Contreras-Llano
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Shahid Khan
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Aijun Wang
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Che-Ming Jack Hu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei City, Taiwan.
| | - Cheemeng Tan
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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5
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Huang J, Fussenegger M. Programming mammalian cell behaviors by physical cues. Trends Biotechnol 2024:S0167-7799(24)00208-7. [PMID: 39179464 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, the field of synthetic biology has witnessed remarkable progress, driving advances in both research and practical applications. One pivotal area of development involves the design of transgene switches capable of precisely regulating specified outputs and controlling cell behaviors in response to physical cues, which encompass light, magnetic fields, temperature, mechanical forces, ultrasound, and electricity. In this review, we delve into the cutting-edge progress made in the field of physically controlled protein expression in engineered mammalian cells, exploring the diverse genetic tools and synthetic strategies available for engineering targeting cells to sense these physical cues and generate the desired outputs accordingly. We discuss the precision and efficiency limitations inherent in these tools, while also highlighting their immense potential for therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinbo Huang
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Klingelbergstrasse 48, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Klingelbergstrasse 48, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 48, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
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6
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Liu P, Hu Q. Engineering Cells for Cancer Therapy. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:2358-2371. [PMID: 39093824 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusCells, particularly living cells, serve as natural carriers of bioactive substances. Their inherent low immunogenicity and multifunctionality have garnered significant attention in the realm of disease treatment applications, specifically within the domains of cancer immunotherapy and regenerative tissue repair. Nevertheless, several prominent challenges impede their swift translation into clinical applications, including obstacles related to large-scale production feasibility and high utilization costs. To address these issues comprehensively, researchers have proposed the notion of bionic cells that are synthetically generated through chemical or biosynthetic means to emulate cellular functions and behaviors. However, artificial cell strategies encounter difficulties in fully replicating the intricate functionalities exhibited by living cells while also grappling with the complexities associated with design implementation for clinical translation purposes. The convergence of disciplines has facilitated the reform of living cells through a range of approaches, including chemical-, biological-, genetic-, and materials-based methods. These techniques can be employed to impart specific functions to cells or enhance the efficacy of therapy. For example, cells are engineered through gene transduction, surface modifications, endocytosis of drugs as delivery systems, and membrane fusion. The concept of engineered cells presents a promising avenue for enhancing control over living cells, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy while concurrently mitigating toxic side effects and ultimately facilitating the realization of precision medicine.In this Account, we present a comprehensive overview of our recent research advancements in the field of engineered cells. Our work involves the application of biological or chemical engineering techniques to manipulate endogenous cells for therapeutics or drug delivery purposes. For instance, to avoid the laborious process of isolating, modifying, and expanding engineered cells in vitro, we proposed the concept of in situ engineered cells. By applying a hydrogel loaded with nanoparticles carrying edited chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) plasmids within the postoperative cavity of glioma, we successfully targeted tumor-associated macrophages for gene editing, leading to effective tumor recurrence inhibition. Furthermore, leveraging platelet's ability to release microparticles upon activation at injury sites, we modified antiprogrammed death 1 (PD-1) antibodies on their surface to suppress postoperative tumor recurrence and provide immunotherapy for inoperable tumors. Similarly, by exploiting bacteria's active tropism toward sites of inflammation and hypoxia, we delivered protein drugs by engineered bacteria to induce cancer cell death through pyroptosis initiation and immunotherapy strategies. In the final section, we summarize our aforementioned research progress while providing an outlook on cancer therapy and the hurdles for clinical translation with potential solutions or future directions based on the concept of engineered cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peixin Liu
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
- Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
- Wisconsin Center for NanoBioSystems, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
| | - Quanyin Hu
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
- Carbone Cancer Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
- Wisconsin Center for NanoBioSystems, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, United States
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7
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Mao C, Zheng H, Chen Y, Yuan P, Sun D. Development of a Type I-E CRISPR-Based Programmable Repression System for Fine-Tuning Metabolic Flux toward D-Pantothenic Acid in Bacillus subtilis. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:2480-2491. [PMID: 39083228 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
The CRISPR-based regulation tools enable fine-tuning of gene transcription, showing potential in areas of biomanufacturing and live therapeutics. However, the cell toxicity and PAM specificity of existing CRISPR-based regulation systems limit their broad application. The development of new and less-toxic CRISPR-controlled expression systems remains highly desirable for expanding the application scope of CRISPR-based tools. Here, we reconstituted the type I CRISPR-Cas system from Escherichia coli to finely tune gene expression in Bacillus subtilis. Through engineering the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNAs of cas genes, we remarkably improved the efficacy of the type I CRISPRi system. The improved type I CRISPRi system was applied in engineering the D-pantothenic acid (DPA)-producing B. subtilis, which was generated by strengthening the metabolic flux toward β-alanine and (R)-pantoate via enhancing expression of key enzymes at both transcriptional and translational levels. Through controlling the expression of pdhA with the CRISPRi system for fine-tuning the metabolic flux toward DPA and the TCA cycle, we elevated the DPA titer to 0.88 g/L in shake flasks and 12.81 g/L in fed-batch fermentations without the addition of the precursor β-alanine. The type I CRISPRi system and the strategy for fine-tuning metabolic flux reported here not only enrich the CRISPR toolbox in B. subtilis and facilitate DPA production through microbial fermentation but also provide a paradigm for programming important organisms to produce value-added chemicals with cheap raw materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyao Mao
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Han Zheng
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Yifeng Chen
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Panhong Yuan
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Dongchang Sun
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
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8
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Weibel N, Curcio M, Schreiber A, Arriaga G, Mausy M, Mehdy J, Brüllmann L, Meyer A, Roth L, Flury T, Pecina V, Starlinger K, Dernič J, Jungfer K, Ackle F, Earp J, Hausmann M, Jinek M, Rogler G, Antunes Westmann C. Engineering a Novel Probiotic Toolkit in Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 for Sensing and Mitigating Gut Inflammatory Diseases. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:2376-2390. [PMID: 39115381 PMCID: PMC11334186 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation with no cure and limited treatment options that often have systemic side effects. In this study, we developed a target-specific system to potentially treat IBD by engineering the probiotic bacterium Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN). Our modular system comprises three components: a transcription factor-based sensor (NorR) capable of detecting the inflammation biomarker nitric oxide (NO), a type 1 hemolysin secretion system, and a therapeutic cargo consisting of a library of humanized anti-TNFα nanobodies. Despite a reduction in sensitivity, our system demonstrated a concentration-dependent response to NO, successfully secreting functional nanobodies with binding affinities comparable to the commonly used drug Adalimumab, as confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and in vitro assays. This newly validated nanobody library expands EcN therapeutic capabilities. The adopted secretion system, also characterized for the first time in EcN, can be further adapted as a platform for screening and purifying proteins of interest. Additionally, we provided a mathematical framework to assess critical parameters in engineering probiotic systems, including the production and diffusion of relevant molecules, bacterial colonization rates, and particle interactions. This integrated approach expands the synthetic biology toolbox for EcN-based therapies, providing novel parts, circuits, and a model for tunable responses at inflammatory hotspots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Weibel
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martina Curcio
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Atilla Schreiber
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel Arriaga
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marine Mausy
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jana Mehdy
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lea Brüllmann
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Meyer
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Len Roth
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tamara Flury
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Valerie Pecina
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kim Starlinger
- University
of Zürich, Campus Irchel Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jan Dernič
- Institute
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University
of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse
190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kenny Jungfer
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Fabian Ackle
- Institute
of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, Gloriastrasse 28/30, CH-8006 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Earp
- Institute
of Medical Microbiology, University of Zürich, Gloriastrasse 28/30, CH-8006 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Hausmann
- Department
of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University
Hospital Zürich and Zürich University, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Jinek
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Rogler
- Department
of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University
Hospital Zürich and Zürich University, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cauã Antunes Westmann
- Department
of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
- Swiss
Institute of Bioinformatics, Quartier Sorge-Batiment Genopode, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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9
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Helenek C, Krzysztoń R, Petreczky J, Wan Y, Cabral M, Coraci D, Balázsi G. Synthetic gene circuit evolution: Insights and opportunities at the mid-scale. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:1447-1459. [PMID: 38925113 PMCID: PMC11330362 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Directed evolution focuses on optimizing single genetic components for predefined engineering goals by artificial mutagenesis and selection. In contrast, experimental evolution studies the adaptation of entire genomes in serially propagated cell populations, to provide an experimental basis for evolutionary theory. There is a relatively unexplored gap at the middle ground between these two techniques, to evolve in vivo entire synthetic gene circuits with nontrivial dynamic function instead of single parts or whole genomes. We discuss the requirements for such mid-scale evolution, with hypothetical examples for evolving synthetic gene circuits by appropriate selection and targeted shuffling of a seed set of genetic components in vivo. Implementing similar methods should aid the rapid generation, functionalization, and optimization of synthetic gene circuits in various organisms and environments, accelerating both the development of biomedical and technological applications and the understanding of principles guiding regulatory network evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Helenek
- The Louis and Beatrice Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Rafał Krzysztoń
- The Louis and Beatrice Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Julia Petreczky
- The Louis and Beatrice Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Department of Chemistry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Yiming Wan
- The Louis and Beatrice Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Mariana Cabral
- The Louis and Beatrice Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Damiano Coraci
- The Louis and Beatrice Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Gábor Balázsi
- The Louis and Beatrice Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
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10
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Liu X, Fan Y, Zhang X, Li L, Yang C, Ma X, Bai G, Sun D, Wang Y, Wang J, Li Y, Shi Y, Liu J, Zhang Y, Wang H. Sequential delivery of photosensitizers and checkpoint inhibitors by engineered bacteria for enhanced cancer photodynamic immunotherapy. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024. [PMID: 39138638 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Engineered bacteria-based cancer therapy has increasingly been considered to be a promising therapeutic strategy due to the development of synthetic biology. Wherein, engineering bacteria-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT)-immunotherapy shows greater advantages and potential in treatment efficiency than monotherapy. However, the unsustainable regeneration of photosensitizers (PSs) and weak immune responses limit the therapeutic efficiency. Herein, we developed an engineered bacteria-based delivery system for sequential delivery of PSs and checkpoint inhibitors in cancer PDT-immunotherapy. The biosynthetic pathway of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) was introduced into Escherichia coli, yielding a supernatant concentration of 172.19 mg/L after 10 h of growth. And another strain was endowed with the light-controllable releasement of anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 nanobodies (anti-PD-L1). This system exhibited a collaborative effect, where PDT initiated tumor cell death and the released tumor cell fragments stimulated immunity, followed by the elimination of residual tumor cells. The tumor inhibition rate reached 74.97%, and the portion of activated T cells and inflammatory cytokines were reinforced. The results demonstrated that the engineered bacteria-based collaborative system could sequentially deliver therapeutic substance and checkpoint inhibitors, and achieve good therapeutic therapy. This paper will provide a new perspective for the cancer PDT-immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, Tianjin, China
| | - Yali Fan
- School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, Tianjin, China
| | - Lianyue Li
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, Tianjin, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Guijie Bai
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, Tianjin, China
| | - Dawei Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, Tianjin, China
| | - Yaxin Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, Tianjin, China
| | - Junyi Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, Tianjin, China
| | - Yong Li
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanyan Shi
- Research Center of Clinical Epidemiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Hanjie Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, Tianjin, China
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11
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Kwon SY, Thi-Thu Ngo H, Son J, Hong Y, Min JJ. Exploiting bacteria for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024; 21:569-589. [PMID: 38840029 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-024-00908-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of cancer but continues to be constrained by limited response rates, acquired resistance, toxicities and high costs, which necessitates the development of new, innovative strategies. The discovery of a connection between the human microbiota and cancer dates back 4,000 years, when local infection was observed to result in tumour eradication in some individuals. However, the true oncological relevance of the intratumoural microbiota was not recognized until the turn of the twentieth century. The intratumoural microbiota can have pivotal roles in both the pathogenesis and treatment of cancer. In particular, intratumoural bacteria can either promote or inhibit cancer growth via remodelling of the tumour microenvironment. Over the past two decades, remarkable progress has been made preclinically in engineering bacteria as agents for cancer immunotherapy; some of these bacterial products have successfully reached the clinical stages of development. In this Review, we discuss the characteristics of intratumoural bacteria and their intricate interactions with the tumour microenvironment. We also describe the many strategies used to engineer bacteria for use in the treatment of cancer, summarizing contemporary data from completed and ongoing clinical trials. The work described herein highlights the potential of bacteria to transform the landscape of cancer therapy, bridging ancient wisdom with modern scientific innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Young Kwon
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Hien Thi-Thu Ngo
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biochemistry, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Jinbae Son
- CNCure Biotech, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongjin Hong
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
- CNCure Biotech, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
- National Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Joon Min
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea.
- CNCure Biotech, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea.
- National Immunotherapy Innovation Center, Chonnam National University, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea.
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12
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Wang L, Wu Q, Lyu Q, Lu D, Guo L, Zhong C, Wang M, Liu C, An B, Xu H, Huo M. Genetically Designed Living Bacteria with Melanogenesis for Tumor-Specific Pigmentation and Therapeutic Intervention. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2402709. [PMID: 38889334 PMCID: PMC11336949 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202402709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Visual observation and therapeutic intervention against tumors hold significant appeal for tumor treatment, particularly in meeting the demands of intraoperative navigation. From a clinical perspective, the naked-eye visualization of tumors provides a direct and convenient approach to identifying tumors and navigating during surgery. Nevertheless, there is an ongoing need to develop effective solutions in this frontier. Genetically engineered microorganisms are promising as living therapeutics for combatting malignant tumors, leveraging precise tumor targeting and versatile programmed functionalities. Here, genetically modified Escherichia coli (E. coli) MG1655 bacterial cells are introduced, called MelaBac cells, designed to express tyrosinase continuously. This bioengineered melanogenesis produces melanin capable of pigmenting both subcutaneous CT26 xenografts and chemically induced colorectal cancer (CRC). Additionally, MelaBac cells demonstrate the initiation of photonic hyperthermia therapy and immunotherapy against tumors, offering promising selective therapeutic interventions with high biocompatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liying Wang
- Department of Medical UltrasoundShanghai Tenth People's HospitalShanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic MedicineSchool of MedicineTongji University301 Middle Yanchang Rd.Shanghai200072P. R. China
| | - Qi Wu
- Department of Medical UltrasoundShanghai Tenth People's HospitalShanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic MedicineSchool of MedicineTongji University301 Middle Yanchang Rd.Shanghai200072P. R. China
| | - Qi Lyu
- Department of UltrasoundZhongshan HospitalInstitute of Ultrasound in Medicine and EngineeringFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Dan Lu
- Department of UltrasoundZhongshan HospitalInstitute of Ultrasound in Medicine and EngineeringFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Lehang Guo
- Department of Medical UltrasoundShanghai Tenth People's HospitalShanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic MedicineSchool of MedicineTongji University301 Middle Yanchang Rd.Shanghai200072P. R. China
| | - Chao Zhong
- Center for Materials Synthetic BiologyShenzhen Institute of Synthetic BiologyShenzhen Institute of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhen518055P. R. China
| | - Min Wang
- Shanghai Institute of CeramicsChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200050P. R. China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Medical UltrasoundShanghai Tenth People's HospitalShanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic MedicineSchool of MedicineTongji University301 Middle Yanchang Rd.Shanghai200072P. R. China
| | - Bolin An
- Center for Materials Synthetic BiologyShenzhen Institute of Synthetic BiologyShenzhen Institute of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhen518055P. R. China
| | - Huixiong Xu
- Department of UltrasoundZhongshan HospitalInstitute of Ultrasound in Medicine and EngineeringFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Minfeng Huo
- Department of Medical UltrasoundShanghai Tenth People's HospitalShanghai Frontiers Science Center of Nanocatalytic MedicineSchool of MedicineTongji University301 Middle Yanchang Rd.Shanghai200072P. R. China
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13
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Srivastava R, González-Prieto C, Lynch JP, Muscolo M, Lin CY, Brown MA, Lemos L, Shrestha A, Osburne MS, Leong JM, Lesser CF. In situ deposition of nanobodies by an engineered commensal microbe promotes survival in a mouse model of enterohemorrhagic E. coli. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.30.605899. [PMID: 39131305 PMCID: PMC11312530 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.30.605899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Engineered smart microbes that deliver therapeutic payloads are emerging as treatment modalities, particularly for diseases with links to the gastrointestinal tract. Enterohemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) is a causative agent of potentially lethal hemolytic uremic syndrome. Given concerns that antibiotic treatment increases EHEC production of Shiga toxin (Stx), which is responsible for systemic disease, novel remedies are needed. EHEC encodes a type III secretion system (T3SS) that injects Tir into enterocytes. Tir inserts into the host cell membrane, exposing an extracellular domain that subsequently binds intimin, one of its outer membrane proteins, triggering the formation of attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions that promote EHEC mucosal colonization. Citrobacter rodentium (Cr), a natural A/E mouse pathogen, similarly requires Tir and intimin for its pathogenesis. Mice infected with Cr(ΦStx2dact), a variant lysogenized with an EHEC-derived phage that produces Stx2dact, develop intestinal A/E lesions and toxin-dependent disease. Stx2a is more closely associated with human disease. By developing an efficient approach to seamlessly modify the C. rodentium genome, we generated Cr_Tir-MEHEC(ΦStx2a), a variant that expresses Stx2a and the EHEC extracellular Tir domain. We found that mouse pre-colonization with HS-PROT3EcT-TD4, a human commensal E. coli strain (E. coli HS) engineered to efficiently secrete- an anti-EHEC Tir nanobody, delayed bacterial colonization and improved survival after challenge with Cr_Tir-MEHEC(ΦStx2a). This study provides the first evidence to support the efficacy of engineered commensal E. coli to intestinally deliver therapeutic payloads that block essential enteric pathogen virulence determinants, a strategy that may serve as an antibiotic-independent antibacterial therapeutic modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajkamal Srivastava
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Coral González-Prieto
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jason P Lynch
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Michele Muscolo
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Catherine Y Lin
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Markus A Brown
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Luisa Lemos
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Anishma Shrestha
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - Marcia S Osburne
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - John M Leong
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
- Tufts Stuart B Levy Center for Integrated Management of Antimicrobial Resistance, Tufts University, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - Cammie F Lesser
- Center for Bacterial Pathogenesis, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Ragon Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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14
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Wang C, Feng Q, Shi S, Qin Y, Lu H, Zhang P, Liu J, Chen B. The Rational Engineered Bacteria Based Biohybrid Living System for Tumor Therapy. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2401538. [PMID: 39051784 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202401538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Living therapy based on bacterial cells has gained increasing attention for their applications in tumor treatments. Bacterial cells can naturally target to tumor sites and active the innate immunological responses. The intrinsic advantages of bacteria attribute to the development of biohybrid living carriers for targeting delivery toward hypoxic environments. The rationally engineered bacterial cells integrate various functions to enhance the tumor therapy and reduce toxic side effects. In this review, the antitumor effects of bacteria and their application are discussed as living therapeutic agents across multiple antitumor platforms. The various kinds of bacteria used for cancer therapy are first introduced and demonstrated the mechanism of antitumor effects as well as the immunological effects. Additionally, this study focused on the genetically modified bacteria for the production of antitumor agents as living delivery system to treat cancer. The combination of living bacterial cells with functional nanomaterials is then discussed in the cancer treatments. In brief, the rational design of living therapy based on bacterial cells highlighted a rapid development in tumor therapy and pointed out the potentials in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Qiliner Feng
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Si Shi
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Yuxuan Qin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Hongli Lu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Jie Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
| | - Baizhu Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 66, Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sensor Technology and Biomedical Instrument, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518107, China
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15
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Dey S, Sankaran S. Engineered bacterial therapeutics with material solutions. Trends Biotechnol 2024:S0167-7799(24)00174-4. [PMID: 39030122 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in engineered bacterial therapeutics underscore their potential in treating diseases via targeted, live interventions. Despite their promising performance in early clinical phases, no engineered therapeutic bacteria have yet received approval, primarily due to challenges in proving efficacy while ensuring biosafety. Material science innovations, particularly the encapsulation of bacteria within hydrogels, present a promising avenue to enhance bacterial survival, efficacy, and safety in therapeutic applications. This review discusses this interdisciplinary approach to develop living therapeutic materials. Hydrogels not only safeguard the bacteria from harsh physiological conditions but also enable controlled therapeutic release and prevent unintended bacterial dissemination. The strategic use of encapsulation materials could redefine the delivery and functionality of engineered bacterial therapeutics, facilitating their clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourik Dey
- INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Campus D2 2, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
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16
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Wu RY, Wu CQ, Xie F, Xing X, Xu L. Building RNA-Mediated Artificial Signaling Pathways between Endogenous Genes. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:1777-1789. [PMID: 38872074 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusSophisticated genetic networks play a pivotal role in orchestrating cellular responses through intricate signaling pathways across diverse environmental conditions. Beyond the inherent complexity of natural cellular signaling networks, the construction of artificial signaling pathways (ASPs) introduces a vast array of possibilities for reshaping cellular responses, enabling programmable control of living organisms. ASPs can be integrated with existing cellular networks and redirect output responses as desired, allowing seamless communication and coordination with other cellular processes, thereby achieving designable transduction within cells. Among diversified ASPs, establishing connections between originally independent endogenous genes is of particular significance in modifying the genetic networks, so that cells can be endowed with new capabilities to sense and deal with abnormal factors related to differentiated gene expression (i.e., solve the issues of the aberrant gene expression induced by either external or internal stimuli). In a typical scenario, the two genes X and Y in the cell are originally expressed independently. After the introduction of an ASP, changes in the expression of gene X may exert a designed impact on gene Y, subsequently inducing the cellular response related to gene Y. If X represents a disease signal and Y serves as a therapeutic module, the introduction of the ASP empowers cells with a new spontaneous defense system to handle potential risks, which holds great potential for both fundamental and translational studies.In this Account, we primarily review our endeavors in the construction of RNA-mediated ASPs between endogenous genes that can respond to differentiated RNA expression. In contrast to other molecules that may be restricted to specific pathways, synthetic RNA circuits can be easily utilized and expanded as a general platform for constructing ASPs with a high degree of programmability and tunability for diversified functionalities through predictable Watson-Crick base pairing. We first provide an overview of recent advancements in RNA-based genetic circuits, encompassing but not limited to utilization of RNA toehold switches, siRNA and CRISPR systems. Despite notable progress, most reported RNA circuits have to contain at least one exogenous RNA X as input or one engineered RNA Y as a target, which is not suitable for establishing endogenous gene connections. While exogenous RNAs can be engineered and controlled as desired, constructing a general and efficient platform for manipulation of naturally occurring RNAs poses a formidable challenge, especially for the mammalian system. With a focus on this goal, we are devoted to developing efficient strategies to manipulate cell responses by establishing RNA-mediated ASPs between endogenous genes, particularly in mammalian cells. Our step-by-step progress in engineering customized cell signaling circuits, from bacterial cells to mammalian cells, from gene expression regulation to phenotype control, and from small RNA to long mRNA of low abundance and more complex secondary structures, is systematically described. Finally, future perspectives and potential applications of these RNA-mediated ASPs between endogenous genes are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo-Yue Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chao-Qun Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Fan Xie
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiwen Xing
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Liang Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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17
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Huang J, Xue S, Xie Y, Teixeira AP, Fussenegger M. Ultrashort-Peptide-Responsive Gene Switches for Regulation of Therapeutic Protein Expression in Mammalian Cells. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2309411. [PMID: 38741284 PMCID: PMC11267282 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Despite the array of mammalian transgene switches available for regulating therapeutic protein expression in response to small molecules or physical stimuli, issues remain, including cytotoxicity of chemical inducers and limited biocompatibility of physical cues. This study introduces gene switches driven by short peptides comprising eight or fewer amino acid residues. Utilizing a competence regulator (ComR) and sigma factor X-inducing peptide (XIP) from Streptococcus vestibularis as the receptor and inducer, respectively, this study develops two strategies for a peptide-activated transgene control system. The first strategy involves fusing ComR with a transactivation domain and utilizes ComR-dependent synthetic promoters to drive expression of the gene-of-interest, activated by XIP, thereby confirming its membrane penetrability and intracellular functionality. The second strategy features an orthogonal synthetic receptor exposing ComR extracellularly (ComREXTRA), greatly increasing sensitivity with exceptional responsiveness to short peptides. In a proof-of-concept study, peptides are administered to type-1 diabetic mice with microencapsulated engineered human cells expressing ComREXTRA for control of insulin expression, restoring normoglycemia. It is envisioned that this system will encourage the development of short peptide drugs and promote the introduction of non-toxic, orthogonal, and highly biocompatible personalized biopharmaceuticals for gene- and cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinbo Huang
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichKlingelbergstrasse 48BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
| | - Shuai Xue
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichKlingelbergstrasse 48BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
- Present address:
Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang ProvinceSchool of Life SciencesWestlake UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Yu‐Qing Xie
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichKlingelbergstrasse 48BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
| | - Ana Palma Teixeira
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichKlingelbergstrasse 48BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichKlingelbergstrasse 48BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of BaselKlingelbergstrasse 48BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
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18
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Ohmura T, Skinner DJ, Neuhaus K, Choi GPT, Dunkel J, Drescher K. In Vivo Microrheology Reveals Local Elastic and Plastic Responses Inside 3D Bacterial Biofilms. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2314059. [PMID: 38511867 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202314059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are highly abundant 3D living materials capable of performing complex biomechanical and biochemical functions, including programmable growth, self-repair, filtration, and bioproduction. Methods to measure internal mechanical properties of biofilms in vivo with spatial resolution on the cellular scale have been lacking. Here, thousands of cells are tracked inside living 3D biofilms of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae during and after the application of shear stress, for a wide range of stress amplitudes, periods, and biofilm sizes, which revealed anisotropic elastic and plastic responses of both cell displacements and cell reorientations. Using cellular tracking to infer parameters of a general mechanical model, spatially-resolved measurements of the elastic modulus inside the biofilm are obtained, which correlate with the spatial distribution of the polysaccharides within the biofilm matrix. The noninvasive microrheology and force-inference approach introduced here provides a general framework for studying mechanical properties with high spatial resolution in living materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Ohmura
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 41, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
| | - Dominic J Skinner
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139-4307, USA
- NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60201, USA
| | - Konstantin Neuhaus
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 41, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
- Department of Physics, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Renthof 5, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Gary P T Choi
- Department of Mathematics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, N.T., Hong Kong
| | - Jörn Dunkel
- Department of Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139-4307, USA
| | - Knut Drescher
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 41, Basel, 4056, Switzerland
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19
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Yuan H, Jia L, Xie X, Li Q, Peng Y, Ma Q, Guo T, Meng T. Microbially Inspired Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Pathway Integrated Polyelectrolyte Capsules (MICPC) for Biomolecules Release. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2306877. [PMID: 38415820 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Complexation between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes offers a facile single-step strategy for assembling functional micro-nano carriers for efficient drug and vaccine delivery. However, the stability of the delivery system within the physiological environment is compromised due to the swelling of the polyelectrolyte complex, driven by the charge shielding effect, and consequently leads to uncontrollable burst release, thereby limiting its potential applications. In a pioneering approach, cellular pathway-inspired calcium carbonate precipitation pathways are developed that are integrated into polyelectrolyte capsules (MICPC). These innovative capsules are fabricated at the interface of all-aqueous microfluidic droplets, resulting in a precisely controllable and sustained release profile in physiological conditions. Unlike single-step polyelectrolyte assembly capsules which always perform rapid burst release, the MICPC exhibits a sustainable and tunable release pattern, releasing biomolecules at an average rate of 3-10% per day. Remarkably, the degree of control over MICPC's release kinetics can be finely tuned by adjusting the quantity of synthesized calcium carbonate particles within the polyelectrolyte complex. This groundbreaking work not only deepens the insights into polyelectrolyte complexation but also significantly enhances the overall stability of these complexes, opening up new avenues for expanding the range of applications involving polyelectrolyte complex-related materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yuan
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Lufan Jia
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Xin Xie
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Qinyuan Li
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Yali Peng
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Qingming Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, P. R. China
| | - Ting Guo
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
| | - Tao Meng
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, P. R. China
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20
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Parthasarathy G, Malhi H, Bajaj JS. Therapeutic manipulation of the microbiome in liver disease. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00932. [PMID: 38922826 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Myriad associations between the microbiome and various facets of liver physiology and pathology have been described in the literature. Building on descriptive and correlative sequencing studies, metagenomic studies are expanding our collective understanding of the functional and mechanistic role of the microbiome as mediators of the gut-liver axis. Based on these mechanisms, the functional activity of the microbiome represents an attractive, tractable, and precision medicine therapeutic target in several liver diseases. Indeed, several therapeutics have been used in liver disease even before their description as a microbiome-dependent approach. To bring successful microbiome-targeted and microbiome-inspired therapies to the clinic, a comprehensive appreciation of the different approaches to influence, collaborate with, or engineer the gut microbiome to coopt a disease-relevant function of interest in the right patient is key. Herein, we describe the various levels at which the microbiome can be targeted-from prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and antibiotics to microbiome reconstitution and precision microbiome engineering. Assimilating data from preclinical animal models, human studies as well as clinical trials, we describe the potential for and rationale behind studying such therapies across several liver diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, alcohol-associated liver disease, cirrhosis, HE as well as liver cancer. Lastly, we discuss lessons learned from previous attempts at developing such therapies, the regulatory framework that needs to be navigated, and the challenges that remain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Harmeet Malhi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jasmohan S Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University and Central Virginia Veterans Healthcare System, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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21
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Robinson SA, Co JA, Banik SM. Molecular glues and induced proximity: An evolution of tools and discovery. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:1089-1100. [PMID: 38688281 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Small molecule molecular glues can nucleate protein complexes and rewire interactomes. Molecular glues are widely used as probes for understanding functional proximity at a systems level, and the potential to instigate event-driven pharmacology has motivated their application as therapeutics. Despite advantages such as cell permeability and the potential for low off-target activity, glues are still rare when compared to canonical inhibitors in therapeutic development. Their often simple structure and specific ability to reshape protein-protein interactions pose several challenges for widespread, designer applications. Molecular glue discovery and design campaigns can find inspiration from the fields of synthetic biology and biophysics to mine chemical libraries for glue-like molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Steven Mark Banik
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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22
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Lei L, Pan W, Shou X, Shao Y, Ye S, Zhang J, Kolliputi N, Shi L. Nanomaterials-assisted gene editing and synthetic biology for optimizing the treatment of pulmonary diseases. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:343. [PMID: 38890749 PMCID: PMC11186260 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02627-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of nanomaterials in gene editing and synthetic biology has emerged as a pivotal strategy in the pursuit of refined treatment methodologies for pulmonary disorders. This review discusses the utilization of nanomaterial-assisted gene editing tools and synthetic biology techniques to promote the development of more precise and efficient treatments for pulmonary diseases. First, we briefly outline the characterization of the respiratory system and succinctly describe the principal applications of diverse nanomaterials in lung ailment treatment. Second, we elaborate on gene-editing tools, their configurations, and assorted delivery methods, while delving into the present state of nanomaterial-facilitated gene-editing interventions for a spectrum of pulmonary diseases. Subsequently, we briefly expound on synthetic biology and its deployment in biomedicine, focusing on research advances in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary conditions against the backdrop of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Finally, we summarize the extant lacunae in current research and delineate prospects for advancement in this domain. This holistic approach augments the development of pioneering solutions in lung disease treatment, thereby endowing patients with more efficacious and personalized therapeutic alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanjie Lei
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China
| | - Wenjie Pan
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325200, China
| | - Xin Shou
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China
| | - Yunyuan Shao
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China
| | - Shuxuan Ye
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210046, China
| | - Narasaiah Kolliputi
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Liyun Shi
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China.
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23
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Xiao B, Liang Y, Liu G, Wang L, Zhang Z, Qiu L, Xu H, Carr S, Shi X, Reis RL, Kundu SC, Zhu Z. Gas-propelled nanomotors alleviate colitis through the regulation of intestinal immunoenvironment-hematopexis-microbiota circuits. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:2732-2747. [PMID: 38828144 PMCID: PMC11143748 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The progression of ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with immunologic derangement, intestinal hemorrhage, and microbiota imbalance. While traditional medications mainly focus on mitigating inflammation, it remains challenging to address multiple symptoms. Here, a versatile gas-propelled nanomotor was constructed by mild fusion of post-ultrasonic CaO2 nanospheres with Cu2O nanoblocks. The resulting CaO2-Cu2O possessed a desirable diameter (291.3 nm) and a uniform size distribution. It could be efficiently internalized by colonic epithelial cells and macrophages, scavenge intracellular reactive oxygen/nitrogen species, and alleviate immune reactions by pro-polarizing macrophages to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. This nanomotor was found to penetrate through the mucus barrier and accumulate in the colitis mucosa due to the driving force of the generated oxygen bubbles. Rectal administration of CaO2-Cu2O could stanch the bleeding, repair the disrupted colonic epithelial layer, and reduce the inflammatory responses through its interaction with the genes relevant to blood coagulation, anti-oxidation, wound healing, and anti-inflammation. Impressively, it restored intestinal microbiota balance by elevating the proportions of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Odoribacter and Bifidobacterium) and decreasing the abundances of harmful bacteria (e.g., Prevotellaceae and Helicobacter). Our gas-driven CaO2-Cu2O offers a promising therapeutic platform for robust treatment of UC via the rectal route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Xiao
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
- College of Sericulture, Textile, and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yuqi Liang
- College of Sericulture, Textile, and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Ga Liu
- College of Sericulture, Textile, and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Lingshuang Wang
- College of Sericulture, Textile, and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zhan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30033, USA
| | - Libin Qiu
- College of Sericulture, Textile, and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Haiting Xu
- College of Sericulture, Textile, and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Sean Carr
- Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30033, USA
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Xiaoxiao Shi
- College of Sericulture, Textile, and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Rui L. Reis
- 3Bs Research Group, I3Bs — Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Barco, Guimaraes 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Subhas C. Kundu
- 3Bs Research Group, I3Bs — Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Barco, Guimaraes 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Zhenghua Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
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24
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Olofsson PS. Living bioelectronics resolve inflammation. Science 2024; 384:962-963. [PMID: 38815044 DOI: 10.1126/science.adp5201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Coupling skin bacteria and electronics opens paths to adaptive treatment of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peder S Olofsson
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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25
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Geng F, Wu M, Yang P, Li X, Pan X, Wang Y, Lü J. Engineered probiotic cocktail with two cascade metabolic Escherichia coli for the treatment of hyperlysinemia. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1366017. [PMID: 38873158 PMCID: PMC11169572 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1366017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Engineering probiotics have emerged as a potential strategy for the treatment of metabolic diseases. However, due to the exceptional complexity of these metabolic disorders and the intricate relationship between gut microbes, it is difficult to achieve an ideal therapeutic effect in a specific metabolic disorder using only a single engineered strain. In this work, we proposed a probiotic cocktail strategy by engineering two cascade metabolic bacteria to treat hyperlysinemia, an inherited lysine metabolic disorder with loss of α-aminoadipate semialdehyde synthase (AASS) activity. A probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917 strain EcNT (pTLS) with a heterologous enzyme pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was engineered to metabolize the excess lysine. Another one EcNT (pK25) was engineered to consume the products of lysine metabolism. The bacterial cocktail enables the maintenance of a metabolic cascade with AASS-like functional activity to maintain the blood lysine concentrations and downstream metabolites. In vitro experimental results showed that the cocktail bacteria had a better metabolic capacity and metabolites balance at a ratio of EcNT (pTLS) and EcNT (pK25) of 1:2. Feeding of the cocktail bacteria to the mouse model effectively reduced the concentration of lysine and balanced saccharopine in the plasma of hyperlysinemia-like mice. These findings not only provide a promising strategy of probiotic stains for the treatment of hyperlysinemia but also highlight the potential of engineered cascade cocktails to intervene and even cure other inherited metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Geng
- College of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, China
| | - Mingyu Wu
- College of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, China
| | - Pan Yang
- College of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, China
| | - Xueling Li
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, China
- College of Public Health, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohong Pan
- College of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Yadi Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, China
| | - Junhong Lü
- College of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, China
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26
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Wang B, Liu Y, Bai X, Tian H, Wang L, Feng M, Xia H. In vitro generation of genetic diversity for directed evolution by error-prone artificial DNA synthesis. Commun Biol 2024; 7:628. [PMID: 38789612 PMCID: PMC11126579 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06340-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Generating genetic diversity lies at the heart of directed evolution which has been widely used to engineer genetic parts and gene circuits in synthetic biology. With the ever-expanding application of directed evolution, different approaches of generating genetic diversity are required to enrich the traditional toolbox. Here we show in vitro generation of genetic diversity for directed evolution by error-prone artificial DNA synthesis (epADS). This approach comprises a three-step process which incorporates base errors randomly generated during chemical synthesis of oligonucleotides under specific conditions into the target DNA. Through this method, 200 ~ 4000 folds of diversification in fluorescent strength have been achieved in genes encoding fluorescent proteins. EpADS has also been successfully used to diversify regulatory genetic parts, synthetic gene circuits and even increase microbial tolerance to carbenicillin in a short time period. EpADS would be an alternative tool for directed evolution which may have useful applications in synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baowei Wang
- Department of Strategic and Integrative Research, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China.
| | - Yang Liu
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Technique Support and Core Facility Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Xuelian Bai
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Technique Support and Core Facility Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Huijuan Tian
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Technique Support and Core Facility Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Lina Wang
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Technique Support and Core Facility Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Miao Feng
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China.
- Technique Support and Core Facility Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.
| | - Hairong Xia
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Technique Support and Core Facility Center, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
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27
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Gao T, Niu L, Wu X, Dai D, Zhou Y, Liu M, Wu K, Yu Y, Guan N, Ye H. Sonogenetics-controlled synthetic designer cells for cancer therapy in tumor mouse models. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101513. [PMID: 38608697 PMCID: PMC11148564 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria-based therapies are powerful strategies for cancer therapy, yet their clinical application is limited by a lack of tunable genetic switches to safely regulate the local expression and release of therapeutic cargoes. Rapid advances in remote-control technologies have enabled precise control of biological processes in time and space. We developed therapeutically active engineered bacteria mediated by a sono-activatable integrated gene circuit based on the thermosensitive transcriptional repressor TlpA39. Through promoter engineering and ribosome binding site screening, we achieved ultrasound (US)-induced protein expression and secretion in engineered bacteria with minimal noise and high induction efficiency. Specifically, delivered either intratumorally or intravenously, engineered bacteria colonizing tumors suppressed tumor growth through US-irradiation-induced release of the apoptotic protein azurin and an immune checkpoint inhibitor, a nanobody targeting programmed death-ligand 1, in different tumor mouse models. Beyond developing safe and high-performance designer bacteria for tumor therapy, our study illustrates a sonogenetics-controlled therapeutic platform that can be harnessed for bacteria-based precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Gao
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Lingxue Niu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Xin Wu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China; The Radiology Department of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, The Fifth Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Di Dai
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China; Wuhu Hospital, Health Science Center, East China Normal University, Middle Jiuhua Road 263, Wuhu City, China
| | - Mengyao Liu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Ke Wu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuanhuan Yu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Ningzi Guan
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Haifeng Ye
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai 200241, China; Wuhu Hospital, Health Science Center, East China Normal University, Middle Jiuhua Road 263, Wuhu City, China.
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28
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Nguyen DT, Han SY, Kozlowski F, Seisenbaeva GA, Kessler VG, Kim BJ, Choi IS. Biphasic water-oil systems for functional augmentation of probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus nanoencapsulated in luteolin-Fe 3+ shells. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:5330-5333. [PMID: 38666704 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc01603c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell nanoencapsulation (SCNE) has great potential in the enhancement of therapeutic effects of probiotic microbes. However, the material scope has been limited to water-soluble compounds to avoid non-biocompatible organic solvents that are harmful to living cells. In this work, the SCNE of probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus with water-insoluble luteolin and Fe3+ ions is achieved by the vortex-assisted, biphasic water-oil system. The process creates L. acidophilus nanoencapsulated in the luteolin-Fe3+ shells that empower the cells with extrinsic properties, such as resistance to lysozyme attack, anti-ROS ability, and α-amylase-inhibition activity, as well as sustaining viability under acidic conditions. The proposed protocol, embracing water-insoluble flavonoids as shell components in SCNE, will be an advanced add-on to the chemical toolbox for the manipulation of living cells at the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc Tai Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sang Yeong Han
- Department of Chemistry, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Filip Kozlowski
- Department of Molecular Sciences, SLU, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | | | - Vadim G Kessler
- Department of Molecular Sciences, SLU, Uppsala 75007, Sweden
| | - Beom Jin Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44776, Republic of Korea
| | - Insung S Choi
- Department of Chemistry, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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29
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Huang J, Xue S, Teixeira AP, Fussenegger M. A Gene-Switch Platform Interfacing with Reactive Oxygen Species Enables Transcription Fine-Tuning by Soluble and Volatile Pharmacologics and Food Additives. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306333. [PMID: 38526196 PMCID: PMC11132055 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic biology aims to engineer transgene switches for precise therapeutic protein control in cell-based gene therapies. However, off-the-shelf trigger-inducible gene circuits are usually switched on by single or structurally similar molecules. This study presents a mammalian gene-switch platform that controls therapeutic gene expression by a wide range of molecules generating low, non-toxic levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this system, KEAP1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1) serves as ROS sensor, regulating the translocation of NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) to the nucleus, where NRF2 binds to antioxidant response elements (ARE) to activate the expression of a gene of interest. It is found that a promoter containing eight-tandem ARE repeats is highly sensitive to the low ROS levels generated by the soluble and volatile molecules, which include food preservatives, food additives, pharmaceuticals, and signal transduction inducers. In a proof-of-concept study, it is shown that many of these compounds can independently trigger microencapsulated engineered cells to produce sufficient insulin to restore normoglycemia in experimental type-1 diabetic mice. It is believed that this system greatly extends the variety of small-molecule inducers available to drive therapeutic gene switches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinbo Huang
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichKlingelbergstrasse 48BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
| | - Shuai Xue
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichKlingelbergstrasse 48BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of BaselKlingelbergstrasse 48BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
| | - Ana Palma Teixeira
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichKlingelbergstrasse 48BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichKlingelbergstrasse 48BaselCH‐4056Switzerland
- Present address:
Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang ProvinceSchool of Life Sciences, Westlake UniversityHangzhou, ZhejiangChina
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30
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Deichmann M, Hansson FG, Jensen ED. Yeast-based screening platforms to understand and improve human health. Trends Biotechnol 2024:S0167-7799(24)00095-7. [PMID: 38677901 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Detailed molecular understanding of the human organism is essential to develop effective therapies. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used extensively for acquiring insights into important aspects of human health, such as studying genetics and cell-cell communication, elucidating protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, and investigating human G protein-coupled receptor (hGPCR) signaling. We highlight recent advances and opportunities of yeast-based technologies for cost-efficient chemical library screening on hGPCRs, accelerated deciphering of PPI networks with mating-based screening and selection, and accurate cell-cell communication with human immune cells. Overall, yeast-based technologies constitute an important platform to support basic understanding and innovative applications towards improving human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Deichmann
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Frederik G Hansson
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Emil D Jensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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31
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Guo Y, Chen X, Gong P, Long H, Wang J, Yang W, Yao W. Siraitia grosvenorii As a Homologue of Food and Medicine: A Review of Biological Activity, Mechanisms of Action, Synthetic Biology, and Applications in Future Food. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:6850-6870. [PMID: 38513114 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Siraitia grosvenorii (SG), also known as Luo Han Guo or Monk fruit, boasts a significant history in food and medicine. This review delves into SG's historical role and varied applications in traditional Chinese culture, examining its phytochemical composition and the health benefits of its bioactive compounds. It further explores SG's biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties and elucidates the mechanisms behind these effects. The review also highlights recent synthetic biology advances in enhancing the production of SG's bioactive compounds, presenting new opportunities for broadening their availability. Ultimately, this review emphasizes SG's value in food and medicine, showcasing its historical and cultural importance, phytochemistry, biological functions, action mechanisms, and the role of synthetic biology in its sustainable use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxi Guo
- School of Food science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Xuefeng Chen
- School of Food science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Pin Gong
- School of Food science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Hui Long
- School of Food science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Jiating Wang
- School of Food science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Wenjuan Yang
- School of Food science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Wenbo Yao
- School of Food science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
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Wu CQ, Wu RY, Zhang QL, Wang LL, Wang Y, Dai C, Zhang CX, Xu L. Harnessing Catalytic RNA Circuits for Construction of Artificial Signaling Pathways in Mammalian Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202319309. [PMID: 38298112 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202319309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Engineering of genetic networks with artificial signaling pathways (ASPs) can reprogram cellular responses and phenotypes under different circumstances for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. However, construction of ASPs between originally independent endogenous genes in mammalian cells is highly challenging. Here we report an amplifiable RNA circuit that can theoretically build regulatory connections between any endogenous genes in mammalian cells. We harness the system of catalytic hairpin assembly with combination of controllable CRISPR-Cas9 function to transduce the signals from distinct messenger RNA expression of trigger genes into manipulation of target genes. Through introduction of these RNA-based genetic circuits, mammalian cells are endowed with autonomous capabilities to sense the changes of RNA expression either induced by ligand stimuli or from various cell types and control the cellular responses and fates via apoptosis-related ASPs. Our design provides a generalized platform for construction of ASPs inside the genetic networks of mammalian cells based on differentiated RNA expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Qun Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Ruo-Yue Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Qiu-Long Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Technology, Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Laboratory Medicine of Fujian Province, Putian University, Putian, 351100, China
| | - Liang-Liang Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yang Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Chu Dai
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Chen-Xi Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Liang Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
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Wang X, Kang L, Kong D, Wu X, Zhou Y, Yu G, Dai D, Ye H. A programmable protease-based protein secretion platform for therapeutic applications. Nat Chem Biol 2024; 20:432-442. [PMID: 37872400 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01433-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based therapies represent potent enabling technologies in biomedical science. However, current genetic control systems for engineered-cell therapies are predominantly based on the transcription or translation of therapeutic outputs. Here we report a protease-based rapid protein secretion system (PASS) that regulates the secretion of pretranslated proteins retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) owing to an ER-retrieval signal. Upon cleavage by inducible proteases, these proteins are secreted. Three PASS variants (chemPASS, antigenPASS and optoPASS) are developed. With chemPASS, we demonstrate the reversal of hyperglycemia in diabetic mice within minutes via drug-induced insulin secretion. AntigenPASS-equipped cells recognize the tumor antigen and secrete granzyme B and perforin, inducing targeted cell apoptosis. Finally, results from mouse models of diabetes, hypertension and inflammatory pain demonstrate light-induced, optoPASS-mediated therapeutic peptide secretion within minutes, conferring anticipated therapeutic benefits. PASS is a flexible platform for rapid delivery of therapeutic proteins that can facilitate the development and adoption of cell-based precision therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Wang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liping Kang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Deqiang Kong
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Wu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Wuhu Hospital, Health Science Center, East China Normal University, Wuhu City, China
| | - Guiling Yu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Dai
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haifeng Ye
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
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Lin P, Wu W, Chen C, Chen Y, Ouyang S, Song Z, Xia Y, An Y, Zhang N, Zhao P, Lin B, Tao J. Walking Dead Macrophage-Based Positive Enhancement MRI for Ultrahighly Efficient Diagnosis of Nephritis. Anal Chem 2024; 96:4933-4941. [PMID: 38483253 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Nephritis is an inflammatory condition of the glomerulus, and the clinical gold standard for its diagnosis is a kidney biopsy. However, obtaining biopsy results can take several days, which does not meet the requirement of rapid diagnosis, especially for rapidly progressive types. To achieve an effective and noninvasive diagnosis, we propose a nephritis-specific, positive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent based on Gd3+ anchored walking dead macrophage Gd-RAW. Gd-RAW exhibits high selectivity for inflammatory renal parenchyma and provides comparable results to histopathology methods. The Gd-RAW-based MRI contrast agent reduces the diagnostic time of nephritis from 14 days of biopsy to 1 h. Furthermore, in a unilateral nephritis model constructed by increasing the glycerol concentration, the T1WI of renal parenchyma exhibits an increased signal-to-noise ratio, which is crucial for evaluating nephritic severity. This work promotes rapid diagnosis of nephritis and potentially provides sufficient evidence for clinicians to offer timely treatment to patients. The methodology of paramagnetic ion-anchored macrophage corpse also opens up new prospects for designing more specific and biosafe MRI contrast agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiru Lin
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Function and Microcirculation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanjia Wu
- Department of Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuyao Chen
- Department of Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuying Chen
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510640 Guangzhou, China
| | - Sixue Ouyang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510640 Guangzhou, China
| | - Zibin Song
- Department of Neurosurgery, Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Yubin Xia
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 515100 Shantou, China
| | - Yida An
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Function and Microcirculation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, 510005 Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Function and Microcirculation, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Bingquan Lin
- Department of Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 510515 Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia Tao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, 510640 Guangzhou, China
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Zhang C, Zhang B, Tang C, Shi X, Guo B, Wang F. A Ratiometric Gene-Switch System for miRNA Sensing and Gene Regulation. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2301266. [PMID: 38009771 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding, small RNAs that play an important role in diverse biological processes and diseases. By regulating the expression of eukaryotic genes post-transcriptionally in a sequence-specific manner, miRNAs are widely used to design synthetic RNA switches. However, most of the RNA switches are often dependent on the corresponding ligand molecules, whose specificity and concentration would affect the efficiency of synthetic RNA circuits. Here, a fused transcriptional repressor Gal4BD-Rluc based gene-switch system Gal-miR for miRNA visualization and gene regulation is described. By placing a luciferase downstream gene under the control of endogenous miRNA machinery, the Gal-miR system makes the conversion of miRNA-mediated gene silencing into a ratiometric bioluminescent signal, which quantitatively reflected miRNA-206 activity during myogenic differentiation. Moreover, it demonstrates that this gene-switch system can effectively inhibit breast cancer cell viability, migration and invasion under the control of specific miRNAs by replacing the downstream gene with melittin functional gene. The study proposes a powerful modular genetic design for achieving precise control of transgene expression in a miRNA responsive way, as well as visualizing the dynamics of miRNA activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanxian Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Beilei Zhang
- Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710038, China
| | - Chu Tang
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuroimaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, China
| | - Xiaorui Shi
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuroimaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, China
| | - Bin Guo
- Engineering Research Center of Molecular and Neuroimaging, School of Life Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Xidian University, Xi'an, 710071, China
| | - Fu Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China
- Xianyang Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Drug Synthesis, School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi Institute of International Trade & Commerce, Xianyang, 712046, China
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Halužan Vasle A, Moškon M. Synthetic biological neural networks: From current implementations to future perspectives. Biosystems 2024; 237:105164. [PMID: 38402944 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2024.105164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Artificial neural networks, inspired by the biological networks of the human brain, have become game-changing computing models in modern computer science. Inspired by their wide scope of applications, synthetic biology strives to create their biological counterparts, which we denote synthetic biological neural networks (SYNBIONNs). Their use in the fields of medicine, biosensors, biotechnology, and many more shows great potential and presents exciting possibilities. So far, many different synthetic biological networks have been successfully constructed, however, SYNBIONN implementations have been sparse. The latter are mostly based on neural networks pretrained in silico and being heavily dependent on extensive human input. In this paper, we review current implementations and models of SYNBIONNs. We briefly present the biological platforms that show potential for designing and constructing perceptrons and/or multilayer SYNBIONNs. We explore their future possibilities along with the challenges that must be overcome to successfully implement a scalable in vivo biological neural network capable of online learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Halužan Vasle
- Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Moškon
- Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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37
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Ngo HTT, Nguyen DH, You SH, Van Nguyen K, Kim SY, Hong Y, Min JJ. Reprogramming a Doxycycline-Inducible Gene Switch System for Bacteria-Mediated Cancer Therapy. Mol Imaging Biol 2024; 26:148-161. [PMID: 38017353 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-023-01879-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Attenuated Salmonella typhimurium is a potential biotherapeutic antitumor agent because it can colonize tumors and inhibit their growth. The present study aimed to develop a doxycycline (Doxy)-inducible gene switch system in attenuated S. typhimurium and assess its therapeutic efficacy in various tumor-bearing mice models. PROCEDURES A Doxy-inducible gene switch system comprising two plasmids was engineered to trigger the expression of cargo genes (Rluc8 and clyA). Attenuated S. typhimurium carrying Rluc8 were injected intravenously into BALB/c mice bearing CT26 tumors, and bioluminescence images were captured at specified intervals post-administration of doxycycline. The tumor-suppressive effects of bacteria carrying clyA were evaluated in BALB/c mice bearing CT26 tumors and in C57BL/6 mice bearing MC38 tumors. RESULTS Expression of the fimE gene, induced only in the presence of Doxy, triggered a unidirectional switch of the POXB20 promoter to induce expression of the cargo genes. The switch event was maintained over a long period of bacterial culture. After intravenous injection of transformed Salmonella into mice bearing CT26 tumors, the bacteria transformed with the Doxy-inducible gene switch system for Rluc8 targeted only tumor tissues and expressed the payloads 2 days after Doxy treatment. Notably, bacteria carrying the Doxy-inducible gene switch system for clyA effectively suppressed tumor growth and prolonged survival, even after just one Doxy induction. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that attenuated S. typhimurium carrying this novel gene switch system elicited significant therapeutic effects through a single induction triggering and were a potential biotherapeutic agent for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hien Thi-Thu Ngo
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
- Department of Molecular Medicine (BrainKorea21 Plus), Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biochemistry, Hanoi Medical University, No 1, Ton That Tung St., Dong Da, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - Dinh-Huy Nguyen
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
- Department of Molecular Medicine (BrainKorea21 Plus), Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Hwan You
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
- CNCure Biotech, Hwasun, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Khuynh Van Nguyen
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
- Department of Molecular Medicine (BrainKorea21 Plus), Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Young Kim
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea
- CNCure Biotech, Hwasun, 58128, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongjin Hong
- CNCure Biotech, Hwasun, 58128, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Microbiology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jung-Joon Min
- Institute for Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Molecular Medicine (BrainKorea21 Plus), Chonnam National University Graduate School, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea.
- CNCure Biotech, Hwasun, 58128, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hwasun Hospital, Gwangju, 61469, Republic of Korea.
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Cao F, Jin L, Zhang C, Gao Y, Qian Z, Wen H, Yang S, Ye Z, Hong L, Yang H, Tong Z, Cheng L, Ding Y, Wang W, Yu G, Mao Z, Chen X. Engineering Clinically Relevant Probiotics with Switchable "Nano-Promoter" and "Nano-Effector" for Precision Tumor Therapy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2304257. [PMID: 37788635 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202304257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Probiotics have the potential as biotherapeutic agents for cancer management in preclinical models and human trials by secreting antineoplastic or immunoregulatory agents in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, current probiotics lack the ability to dynamically respond to unique TME characteristics, leading to limited therapeutic accuracy and efficacy. Although progress has been made in customizing controllable probiotics through synthetic biology, the engineering process is complex and the predictability of production is relatively low. To address this, here, for the first time, this work adopts pH-dependent peroxidase-like (POD-like) artificial enzymes as both an inducible "nano-promoter" and "nano-effector" to engineer clinically relevant probiotics to achieve switchable control of probiotic therapy. The nanozyme initially serves as an inducible "nano-promoter," generating trace amounts of nonlethal reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress to upregulate acidic metabolites in probiotics. Once metabolites acidify the TME to a threshold, the nanozyme switches to a "nano-effector," producing a great deal of lethal ROS to fight cancer. This approach shows promise in subcutaneous, orthotopic, and colitis-associated colorectal cancer tumors, offering a new methodology for modulating probiotic metabolism in a pathological environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Cao
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology Surgery Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore
- Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, NUS Center for Nanomedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
| | - Lulu Jin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Chenyin Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Yong Gao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Zhefeng Qian
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Hongyang Wen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Sisi Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Ziqiang Ye
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Liangjie Hong
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Huang Yang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Zongrui Tong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Liang Cheng
- Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yuan Ding
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Weilin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Guocan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Zhengwei Mao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology Surgery Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore
- Nanomedicine Translational Research Program, NUS Center for Nanomedicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117597, Singapore
- Clinical Imaging Research Centre, Centre for Translational Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117599, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore, 138673, Singapore
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Lin Z, Meng F, Ma Y, Zhang C, Zhang Z, Yang Z, Li Y, Hou L, Xu Y, Liang X, Zhang X. In situ immunomodulation of tumors with biosynthetic bacteria promote anti-tumor immunity. Bioact Mater 2024; 32:12-27. [PMID: 37790917 PMCID: PMC10542607 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy potently revives T cell's response to cancer. However, patients suffered with tumors that had inadequate infiltrated immune cells only receive limited therapeutic benefits from ICB therapy. Synthetic biology promotes the alternative strategy of harnessing tumor-targeting bacteria to synthesize therapeutics to modulate immunity in situ. Herein, we engineered attenuated Salmonella typhimurium VNP20009 with gene circuits to synthetize granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 7 (IL-7) within tumors, which recruited dendritic cells (DCs) and enhanced T cell priming to elicit anti-tumor response. The bacteria-produced GM-CSF stimulated the maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), while IL-7 promoted the proliferation of spleen isolated T cells and inhibited cytotoxicity T cell apoptosis in vitro. Virtually, engineered VNP20009 prefer to colonize in tumors, and inhibited tumor growth by enhancing DCs and T cell infiltration. Moreover, the tumor-toxic GZMB+ CD8+ T cell and IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cell populations conspicuously increased with the treatment of engineered bacteria. The combination of GM-CSF-IL-7-VNP20009 with PD-1 antibody synergistically stunted the tumor progress and stasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongda Lin
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Fanqiang Meng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Yumeng Ma
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhirang Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhaoxin Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Linlin Hou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuzhong Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shenzhen Baoan Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518101, China
| | - Xin Liang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
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Hahn J, Ding S, Im J, Harimoto T, Leong KW, Danino T. Bacterial therapies at the interface of synthetic biology and nanomedicine. NATURE REVIEWS BIOENGINEERING 2024; 2:120-135. [PMID: 38962719 PMCID: PMC11218715 DOI: 10.1038/s44222-023-00119-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria are emerging as living drugs to treat a broad range of disease indications. However, the inherent advantages of these replicating and immunostimulatory therapies also carry the potential for toxicity. Advances in synthetic biology and the integration of nanomedicine can address this challenge through the engineering of controllable systems that regulate spatial and temporal activation for improved safety and efficacy. Here, we review recent progress in nanobiotechnology-driven engineering of bacteria-based therapies, highlighting limitations and opportunities that will facilitate clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeseung Hahn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Suwan Ding
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jongwon Im
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tetsuhiro Harimoto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kam W. Leong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tal Danino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Data Science Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Zalatan JG, Petrini L, Geiger R. Engineering bacteria for cancer immunotherapy. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 85:103061. [PMID: 38219524 PMCID: PMC10922846 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.103061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial therapeutics have emerged as promising delivery systems to target tumors. These engineered live therapeutics can be harnessed to modulate the tumor microenvironment or to deliver and selectively release therapeutic payloads to tumors. A major challenge is to deliver bacteria systemically without causing widespread inflammation, which is critical for the many tumors that are not accessible to direct intratumoral injection. We describe potential strategies to address this challenge, along with approaches for specific payload delivery and biocontainment to ensure safety. These strategies will pave the way for the development of cost-effective, widely applicable next-generation cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse G Zalatan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
| | - Lorenzo Petrini
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Roger Geiger
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland; Institute of Oncology Research, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
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42
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Hooe SL, Smith AD, Dean SN, Breger JC, Ellis GA, Medintz IL. Multienzymatic Cascades and Nanomaterial Scaffolding-A Potential Way Forward for the Efficient Biosynthesis of Novel Chemical Products. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2309963. [PMID: 37944537 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202309963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is touted as the next industrial revolution as it promises access to greener biocatalytic syntheses to replace many industrial organic chemistries. Here, it is shown to what synthetic biology can offer in the form of multienzyme cascades for the synthesis of the most basic of new materials-chemicals, including especially designer chemical products and their analogs. Since achieving this is predicated on dramatically expanding the chemical space that enzymes access, such chemistry will probably be undertaken in cell-free or minimalist formats to overcome the inherent toxicity of non-natural substrates to living cells. Laying out relevant aspects that need to be considered in the design of multi-enzymatic cascades for these purposes is begun. Representative multienzymatic cascades are critically reviewed, which have been specifically developed for the synthesis of compounds that have either been made only by traditional organic synthesis along with those cascades utilized for novel compound syntheses. Lastly, an overview of strategies that look toward exploiting bio/nanomaterials for accessing channeling and other nanoscale materials phenomena in vitro to direct novel enzymatic biosynthesis and improve catalytic efficiency is provided. Finally, a perspective on what is needed for this field to develop in the short and long term is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby L Hooe
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering Code 6900, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
- National Research Council, Washington, DC, 20001, USA
| | - Aaron D Smith
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering Code 6900, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Scott N Dean
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering Code 6900, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Joyce C Breger
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering Code 6900, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Gregory A Ellis
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering Code 6900, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
| | - Igor L Medintz
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering Code 6900, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 20375, USA
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43
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Ding T, Li W, Li F, Ren M, Wang W. microRNAs: Key Regulators in Plant Responses to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses via Endogenous and Cross-Kingdom Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1154. [PMID: 38256227 PMCID: PMC10816238 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Dramatic shifts in global climate have intensified abiotic and biotic stress faced by plants. Plant microRNAs (miRNAs)-20-24 nucleotide non-coding RNA molecules-form a key regulatory system of plant gene expression; playing crucial roles in plant growth; development; and defense against abiotic and biotic stress. Moreover, they participate in cross-kingdom communication. This communication encompasses interactions with other plants, microorganisms, and insect species, collectively exerting a profound influence on the agronomic traits of crops. This article comprehensively reviews the biosynthesis of plant miRNAs and explores their impact on plant growth, development, and stress resistance through endogenous, non-transboundary mechanisms. Furthermore, this review delves into the cross-kingdom regulatory effects of plant miRNAs on plants, microorganisms, and pests. It proceeds to specifically discuss the design and modification strategies for artificial miRNAs (amiRNAs), as well as the protection and transport of miRNAs by exosome-like nanovesicles (ELNVs), expanding the potential applications of plant miRNAs in crop breeding. Finally, the current limitations associated with harnessing plant miRNAs are addressed, and the utilization of synthetic biology is proposed to facilitate the heterologous expression and large-scale production of miRNAs. This novel approach suggests a plant-based solution to address future biosafety concerns in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianze Ding
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (T.D.); (W.L.); (F.L.)
- Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China
| | - Wenkang Li
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (T.D.); (W.L.); (F.L.)
- Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China
| | - Fuguang Li
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (T.D.); (W.L.); (F.L.)
- Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China
| | - Maozhi Ren
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (T.D.); (W.L.); (F.L.)
- Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Zhengzhou Research Base, National Key Laboratory of Cotton Bio-Breeding and Integrated Utilization, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; (T.D.); (W.L.); (F.L.)
- Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang 455000, China
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Han K, Xu J, Xie F, Crowther J, Moon JJ. Engineering Strategies to Modulate the Gut Microbiome and Immune System. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:208-215. [PMID: 38166246 PMCID: PMC10766079 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
The gut microbiota, predominantly residing in the colon, is a complex ecosystem with a pivotal role in the host immune system. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been associated with various diseases, and there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutics that target the microbiome and restore immune functions. This Brief Review discusses emerging therapeutic strategies that focus on oral delivery systems for modulating the gut microbiome. These strategies include genetic engineering of probiotics, probiotic-biomaterial hybrids, dietary fibers, and oral delivery systems for microbial metabolites, antimicrobial peptides, RNA, and antibiotics. Engineered oral formulations have demonstrated promising outcomes in reshaping the gut microbiome and influencing immune responses in preclinical studies. By leveraging these approaches, the interplay between the gut microbiota and the immune system can be harnessed for the development of novel therapeutics against cancer, autoimmune disorders, and allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Han
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Fang Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Julia Crowther
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - James J. Moon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Biointerfaces Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Teng F, Cui T, Zhou L, Gao Q, Zhou Q, Li W. Programmable synthetic receptors: the next-generation of cell and gene therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:7. [PMID: 38167329 PMCID: PMC10761793 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01680-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell and gene therapies hold tremendous promise for treating a range of difficult-to-treat diseases. However, concerns over the safety and efficacy require to be further addressed in order to realize their full potential. Synthetic receptors, a synthetic biology tool that can precisely control the function of therapeutic cells and genetic modules, have been rapidly developed and applied as a powerful solution. Delicately designed and engineered, they can be applied to finetune the therapeutic activities, i.e., to regulate production of dosed, bioactive payloads by sensing and processing user-defined signals or biomarkers. This review provides an overview of diverse synthetic receptor systems being used to reprogram therapeutic cells and their wide applications in biomedical research. With a special focus on four synthetic receptor systems at the forefront, including chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and synthetic Notch (synNotch) receptors, we address the generalized strategies to design, construct and improve synthetic receptors. Meanwhile, we also highlight the expanding landscape of therapeutic applications of the synthetic receptor systems as well as current challenges in their clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Teng
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China.
| | - Tongtong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Li Zhou
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qingqin Gao
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Wei Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, 100101, China.
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Zhuang Z, Cheng YY, Deng J, Cai Z, Zhong L, Qu JX, Wang K, Yang L. Genomic insights into the phage-defense systems of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia clinical isolates. Microbiol Res 2024; 278:127528. [PMID: 37918082 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a rapidly evolving multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogen that can cause serious infections in immunocompromised patients. Although phage therapy is one of promising strategies for dealing with MDR bacteria, the main challenges of phage therapeutics include accumulation of phage resistant mutations and acquisition of the phage defense systems. To systematically evaluate the impact of (pro)phages in shaping genetic and evolutionary diversity of S. maltophilia, we collected 166 S. maltophilia isolates from three hospitals in southern China to analyze its pangenome, virulence factors, prophage regions, and anit-viral immune systems. Pangenome analysis indicated that there are 1328 saturated core genes and 26961 unsaturated accessory genes in the pangenome, suggesting existence of highly variable parts of S. maltophilia genome. The presence of genes in relation to T3SS and T6SS mechanisms suggests the great potential to secrete toxins by the S. maltophilia population, which is contrary to the conventional notion of low-virulence of S. maltophilia. Additionally, we characterized the pan-immune system maps of these clinical isolates against phage infections and revealed the co-harboring of CBASS and anti-CBASS in some strains, suggesting a never-ending arms race and the co-evolutionary dynamic between bacteria and phages. Furthermore, our study predicted 310 prophage regions in S. maltophilia with high genetic diversity. Six viral defense systems were found to be located at specific position of the S. maltophilia prophage genomes, indicating potential evolution of certain site/region similar to bacterial 'defense islands' in prophage. Our study provides novel insights into the S. maltophilia pangenome in relation to phage-defense mechanisms, which extends our understanding of bacterial-phage interactions and might guide the application of phage therapy in combating S. maltophilia infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zilin Zhuang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Ying-Ying Cheng
- Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Second Clinical Medical College (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Jinan University, Shenzhen, PR China; BGI Forensic, Shenzhen 518083, PR China; The First Affiliated Hospital (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, PR China
| | - Jie Deng
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China; Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Zhao Cai
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China; Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Lin Zhong
- Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518112, PR China
| | - Jiu-Xin Qu
- Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518112, PR China
| | - Ke Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, PR China.
| | - Liang Yang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China; Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518112, PR China; Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, PR China.
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Asensio‐Calavia A, Ceballos‐Munuera Á, Méndez‐Pérez A, Álvarez B, Fernández LÁ. A tuneable genetic switch for tight control of tac promoters in Escherichia coli boosts expression of synthetic injectisomes. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14328. [PMID: 37608576 PMCID: PMC10832536 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Biosafety of engineered bacteria as living therapeutics requires a tight regulation to control the specific delivery of protein effectors, maintaining minimum leakiness in the uninduced (OFF) state and efficient expression in the induced (ON) state. Here, we report a three repressors (3R) genetic circuit that tightly regulates the expression of multiple tac promoters (Ptac) integrated in the chromosome of E. coli and drives the expression of a complex type III secretion system injectisome for therapeutic protein delivery. The 3R genetic switch is based on the tetracycline repressor (TetR), the non-inducible lambda repressor cI (ind-) and a mutant lac repressor (LacIW220F ) with higher activity. The 3R switch was optimized with different protein translation and degradation signals that control the levels of LacIW220F . We demonstrate the ability of an optimized switch to fully repress the strong leakiness of the Ptac promoters in the OFF state while triggering their efficient activation in the ON state with anhydrotetracycline (aTc), an inducer suitable for in vivo use. The implementation of the optimized 3R switch in the engineered synthetic injector E. coli (SIEC) strain boosts expression of injectisomes upon aTc induction, while maintaining a silent OFF state that preserves normal growth in the absence of the inducer. Since Ptac is a commonly used promoter, the 3R switch may have multiple applications for tight control of protein expression in E. coli. In addition, the modularity of the 3R switch may enable its tuning for the control of Ptac promoters with different inducers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Asensio‐Calavia
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Álvaro Ceballos‐Munuera
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
- Programa de Doctorado en Biociencias MolecularesUniversidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM)MadridSpain
| | - Almudena Méndez‐Pérez
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
- Programa de Doctorado en Biociencias MolecularesUniversidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM)MadridSpain
| | - Beatriz Álvarez
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Luis Ángel Fernández
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB‐CSIC)MadridSpain
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48
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Ba F, Zhang Y, Ji X, Liu WQ, Ling S, Li J. Expanding the toolbox of probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 for synthetic biology. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300327. [PMID: 37800393 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) is a probiotic microbe that has the potential to be developed as a promising chassis for synthetic biology applications. However, the molecular tools and techniques for utilizing EcN remain to be further explored. To address this opportunity, the EcN-based toolbox was systematically expanded, enabling EcN as a powerful platform for more applications. First, two EcN cryptic plasmids and other compatible plasmids were genetically engineered to enrich the manipulable plasmid toolbox for multiple gene coexpression. Next, two EcN-based technologies were developed, including the conjugation strategy for DNA transfer, and quantification of protein expression capability. Finally, the EcN-based applications were further expanded by developing EcN native integrase-mediated genetic engineering and establishing an in vitro cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) system. Overall, this study expanded the toolbox for manipulating and making full use of EcN as a commonly used probiotic chassis, providing several simplified, dependable, and predictable strategies for researchers working in synthetic biology fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Ba
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yufei Zhang
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangyang Ji
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wan-Qiu Liu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengjie Ling
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Li
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
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49
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Ma PQ, Huang FW, Xie YQ, Li HR, Li HD, Ye BC, Yin BC. Universal DNA-Based Sensing Toolbox for Programming Cell Functions. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:28224-28232. [PMID: 38108623 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c11232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
By recombining natural cell signaling systems and further reprogramming cell functions, use of genetically engineered cells and bacteria as therapies is an innovative emerging concept. However, the inherent properties and structures of the natural signal sensing and response pathways constrain further development. We present a universal DNA-based sensing toolbox on the cell surface to endow new signal sensing abilities for cells, control cell states, and reprogram multiple cell functions. The sensing toolbox contains a triangular-prismatic-shaped DNA origami framework and a sensing core anchored inside the internal confined space to enhance the specificity and efficacy of the toolbox. As a proof of principle, the sensing toolbox uses the customizable sensing core with signal sensing switches and converters to recognize unconventional signal inputs, deliver functional components to cells, and then control cell responses, including specific tumor cell death, immune cell disinhibition and adhesion, and bacterial expression. This work expands the diversity of cell sensing signals and reprograms biological functions by constructing nanomechanical-natural hybrid cells, providing new strategies for engineering cells and bacteria in diagnosis and treatment applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Qiang Ma
- Lab of Biosystem and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Fu-Wen Huang
- Lab of Biosystem and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Ya-Qi Xie
- Lab of Biosystem and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Hong-Rui Li
- Lab of Biosystem and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Hua-Dong Li
- Lab of Biosystem and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Bang-Ce Ye
- Lab of Biosystem and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Institute of Engineering Biology and Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Bin-Cheng Yin
- Lab of Biosystem and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832000, China
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50
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Arbel-Groissman M, Menuhin-Gruman I, Naki D, Bergman S, Tuller T. Fighting the battle against evolution: designing genetically modified organisms for evolutionary stability. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1518-1531. [PMID: 37442714 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology has made significant progress in many areas, but a major challenge that has received limited attention is the evolutionary stability of synthetic constructs made of heterologous genes. The expression of these constructs in microorganisms, that is, production of proteins that are not necessary for the organism, is a metabolic burden, leading to a decrease in relative fitness and make the synthetic constructs unstable over time. This is a significant concern for the synthetic biology community, particularly when it comes to bringing this technology out of the laboratory. In this review, we discuss the issue of evolutionary stability in synthetic biology and review the available tools to address this challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matan Arbel-Groissman
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Itamar Menuhin-Gruman
- School of Mathematical Sciences, The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Doron Naki
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Shaked Bergman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Tamir Tuller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
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