The use of bacteria for disease treatment dates back to the 19th century. With the advancement of molecular biology and genetic engineering technology, scientists have been able to transform bacteria through genetic engineering to diagnose and treat diseases. This therapy, known as living engineered bacterial therapy, has several advantages, including low cost, sensitivity, and robustness, and can detect and treat diseases non-invasively and in situ.
To construct intelligent engineered bacteria for disease diagnosis and treatment, three key aspects must be considered: the selection of bacterial strains, construction of the biosensing system, and design of the release mechanism. The selection of bacterial strains should prioritize non-pathogenicity and biosafety, as well as genetic manipulation difficulties. The construction of the biosensing system involves the reception module, transmission control module, and output module. The release mechanism should be designed to ensure the effective release of diagnostic reporting factors or therapeutic factors from the engineered bacteria.
Intelligent engineered bacteria have been applied in various fields, including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, biology, and basic medical research. They have been engineered to detect and treat diseases, such as cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and hyperuricemia, by sensing environmental signals and transmitting them to key promoters, ultimately leading to the expression of functional proteins.