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Living therapeutics: Scientists genetically modify bacteria to deliver drugs

Nature Medicine volume 23, pages 5–7 (2017)Cite this article

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A Correction to this article was published on 07 March 2017

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Now, after a decade of research, Osel's creation, along with several other companies' products that contain live, genetically modified microbes, are nearing the clinic. Many of the microbes under exploration provide a more efficient process of drug delivery when compared to therapeutics currently produced within—and extracted from—recombinant bacteria. These recombinant bacteria make specific proteins, thanks to genes that scientists have inserted into the microbes. Conventionally, companies grow recombinant bacteria in large vats and capture their products for processing, before giving these products to humans as treatment. But now, researchers want to administer the recombinant bacteria directly to patients. Once inside a person, the bacteria would act like little factories, pumping out the therapeutic.

The new products ride on a wave of research showing how some living bacteria can positively influence health. “When we started this 25 years ago, people thought we were totally crazy to want to inject humans with live bacteria,” says David Bermudes, a microbiologist at California State University, Northridge, who studies how living, pathogenic bacteria might be genetically modified to fight cancer. “But now, with interest in the microbiome and a growing appreciation for probiotics, the field is heating up.”

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Change history

  • 15 February 2017

    In the January 2017 issue, the piece “Living therapeutics: Scientists genetically modify bacteria to deliver drugs” (Nat. Med. 23, 5–7, 2017) incorrectly stated that the company Oragenics is slated to launch a phase 2 trial on ulcerative mucositis next year. In fact, they will begin the trial in 2017. The error has been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of this article.

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  1. Amy Maxmen is a freelance science journalist based in Berkeley, California.,

    Amy Maxmen

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Maxmen, A. Living therapeutics: Scientists genetically modify bacteria to deliver drugs. Nat Med 23, 5–7 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0117-5

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