Engineered bacterial strain eliminates drug resistance in GI tract

Medical College of Wisconsin inventors have developed a novel biotherapeutic for eliminating antibiotic-resistant enterococci from the GI tract. The engineered Enterococcus faecalis (EF) specifically targets enterococci in the gut while leaving beneficial commensal bacteria alone. Additionally, the engineered EF cannot stably colonize the gut, making it amenable as a dosed therapeutic.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is a major type of hospital acquired infections worldwide. In addition to vancomycin, VRE are increasingly resistant to other antibiotics, significantly reducing treatment options for vulnerable, hospitalized patients. Pathogenic enterococci can also cause several diseases in farm animals such as poultry and dairy cattle.

This novel biotherapeutic EF is engineered to combat antibiotic resistant and pathogenic enterococci by exploiting antimicrobial bacteriocins.

This engineered Enterococci has the potential to be an effective therapeutic against antibiotic resistance enterococci , such as VRE, and other pathogenic enterococci in humans and animals.

Key Advantages

• Antibiotic-free method of eliminating Enterococci
• Does not affect beneficial bacteria in gut; Enterococci specific
• Therapeutic profile due to inability to establish stable colony