Work

Bacterial Living Therapeutics with Engineered Protein Secretion Circuits to Eliminate Breast Cancer Cells

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Cancer therapy can be limited by potential side effects, and bacteria-based living cancer therapeutics have gained scientific interest in recent years. However, the full potential of bacteria as therapeutics has yet to be explored due to engineering challenges. n this study, we present a bacterial device designed to specifically target and eliminate breast cancer cells. We have engineered Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) to secrete a Shiga toxin, HlyE, which is a pore-forming protein that binds to HER2 receptors on breast cancer cells. This binding is facilitated by a nanobody expressed on the bacteria’s surface via the Ag43 autotransporter protein system. Our findings demonstrate that the nanobody efficiently binds to HER2+ cells in vitro, and we have utilized the YebF secretion system to secrete HlyE and kill the target cancer cells. Overall, our results highlight the potential of our engineered bacteria as an innovative strategy for breast cancer treatment.

Source: ACS Synthetic Biology

DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00723

Authors: Gozeel Binte Shahid, Recep Erdem Ahan, Julian Ostaku, Urartu Ozgur Safak Seker

Institutions: Bilkent University, National Nanotechnology Research Center

Language: English

Topic: Cancer Research and Treatments

Subfield: Biotechnology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu