Engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a new way to protect
If this strain is introduced into the body along with an antibiotic, it will help protect the microbiota in the intestines and will not interfere with the work of the medicine. The authors confirmed this during an experiment on mice.
Over the past 20 years of research, scientists have proven that microbes in the human intestine play an important role not only in metabolism, but also help the immune system function, as well as the nervous system.
To protect the gut microbiota fromantibiotics, the researchers decided to use modified bacteria. They engineered a strain of bacteria, Lactococcus lactis, which is commonly used in cheese production: the strain delivers an enzyme that breaks down beta-lactam antibiotics. These drugs account for about 60% of antibiotics prescribed in the United States.
If these bacteria are administered orally, theyenter the intestines and temporarily reside there, releasing an enzyme called beta-lactamase. This enzyme then breaks down antibiotics that enter the gastrointestinal tract. When antibiotics are given orally, the drugs move into the bloodstream primarily from the stomach, so they can still circulate in the body in large amounts.
This approach can also be used ifantibiotics are introduced into the body in a different way. After all, one way or another, the medicine will get into the intestines. After the artificial bacteria have broken down all the antibiotics, they exit the body through the digestive tract.
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