Biotechnology Develops Novel Bacteria for Cancer Gene Detection

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Highlights:

• Advances in genetic engineering have paved way for the development of living cell diagnostics and therapeutics
• Recent evidence suggests that engineered naturally competent Acinetobacter baylyi can detect donor DNA from the genomes from the genomes of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, organoids and tumors
• This technology, referred to as Cellular Assay of Targeted, CRISPR-discriminated Horizontal gene transfer (CATCH), serves as a foundation for bio-sensing mutations within environments

An international team of researchers at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), have genetically engineered a bacteria which is capable of detecting mutated (damaged) DNA released from colorectal cancer cells, thus facilitating and leading the way for early cancer detection.

Acinetobacter baylyi (A. baylyi), the novel engineered bacteria is designed such that it can easily sample and integrate DNA from its native environment. The research team has thus been able to engineer a bacteria that can naturally detect the mutated KRAS gene, which is one of the important causative genes leading to colorectal cancer.

‘Synthetic-Biology designed Acinetobacter Abylyi detects Cancer specific DNA sequences and mutations that serve as target for therapeutic intervention. #biotechnology#synthteticbiology#Cancerdetection’

This technology �CATCH', which stands for, Cellular Assay of Targeted CRISPR-discriminated Horizontal gene transfer, is implicated for the landmark breakthrough.

This study published in the Science journal demonstrates how novel engineered bacteria can detect specific DNA sequences to diagnose specific diseases (1^✔).

Horizontal gene transfer technology: How it works

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), refers to the exchange of genetic material between organisms apart from the natural method where DNA is exchanged only between the parent cell and daughter cells. HGT is common between microbes and a recognized method a transfer of genetic material.

The bacterial biosensors, i.e. the engineered Acinetobacter baylyi bacteria, are delivered rectally to the gastrointestinal tract of an animal model with colorectal cancer, where they sample and gnomically integrate the target tumor DNA within themselves.

The integration and identification is targeted at the KRAS oncogene which is an important oncogene in human cancer, and its presence in a gene accompanies the progression of a simple cancer into advanced cancers.

The sensor bacteria that undergo HGT from tumor DNA acquire drug resistance and are quantified from the sampled contents. Thus facilitating identification and intervention if any to the cancer cells (2^✔).

CRISPR: The genetic tool

CRISPR is an acronym used for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. They are a family of DNA sequences which are found in the genomes of organisms such as bacteria. CRISPR gene editing is a genetic engineering technique in molecular biology by which the genetic material of living organisms can be modified. It is based on a simplified version of a complex process where the cell's genetic material can be cut at a desired location, allowing existing genes to be removed and/or new ones added (3^✔).

What this breakthrough research offers?

The research serves as a breakthrough in medical science as it can help humankind and strategies to combat diseases like cancer in several ways.

1. It serves as is a method to detect tumor cells in the body that can be easily isolated from human plasma, serum, and other body fluids thus playing a critical part in the screening, diagnosis, early detection and treatment of cancer
2. It can detect tumor cells in blood earlier and in smaller numbers, possibly allowing for diagnosis prior to any tumor detection using imaging methods
3. Tumor cell detection serves as an effective method for the evaluation of chemotherapy efficacy and malignancy recurrence
4. It helps in deciding choice of treatment and drug selection
5. It can help in forecasting prognosis and cancer recurrence
6. It can play a crucial role in recognition of resistance mechanisms and therapeutic targets, as well as real-time monitoring of therapies (4^✔)

References:

1. Engineered bacteria detect tumor DNA - (https:pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37561843/)
2. Horizontal Gene Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance from Acinetobacter baylyi to Escherichia coli on Lettuce and Subsequent Antibiotic Resistance Transmission to the Gut Microbiome - (https:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7253597/)
3. Gene Editing on Center Stage - (https:pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29908711/)
4. Detection Methods and Clinical Applications of Circulating Tumor Cells in Breast Cancer - (https:www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8208079/)

Source: Medindia

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