Bugs as Drugs: A New Way to Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Alita Miller

Year
2025
Tags
IBD
microbiome therapy
engineered probiotics
synthetic biology
yeast engineering
gut inflammation
drug delivery
colorectal cancer
microbial therapeutics
biotechnology
UNC
Summary

IBD patients have weakened gut microbes, leaving them with chronic inflammation and limited treatment options. This research engineers probiotic yeast with anchors, drug-carrying “backpacks,” and reprogrammed DNA to deliver targeted therapeutics safely and cheaply. Early results show these modified microbes could become effective, low-side-effect treatments for IBD and other gut diseases.