Bioengineered probiotics, a strategic approach to control enteric infections

Abstract

Enteric infections account for high morbidity and mortality and are considered to be the fifth leading cause of death at all ages worldwide. Seventy percent of all enteric infections are foodborne. Thus significant efforts have been directed toward the detection, control and prevention of foodborne diseases. Many antimicrobials including antibiotics have been used for their control and prevention. However, probiotics offer a potential alternative intervention strategy owing to their general health beneficial properties and inhibitory effects against foodborne pathogens. Often, antimicrobial probiotic action is non-specific and non-discriminatory or may be ineffective. In such cases, bioengineered probiotics expressing foreign gene products to achieve specific function is highly desirable. In this review we summarize the strategic development of recombinant bioengineered probiotics to control enteric infections, and to examine how scientific advancements in the human microbiome and their immunomodulatory effects help develop such novel and safe bioengineered probiotics.

Keywords: bioengineered probiotics; enteric infections; foodborne diseases; lactic acid bacteria; probiotics; recombinant probiotics.

Figure 1. Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes transepithelial translocation through epithelial barrier by bioengineered probiotic, Lactobacillus paracasei expressing Listeria adhesion protein (LAP). (A) Immunofluorescence staining of LAP expression by Listeria monocytogenes^WT and recombinant Lb. paracasei^LAP. (B) Recombinant Lb. paracasei^LAP (LbpLAP) showing about 46% reduction in L. monocytogenes translocation through epithelial barrier while, Lb. paracasei^WT (LbpWT) or Lb. paracasei containing empty vector (LbpLAP-) had no effect. Figures adapted from Koo et al.