Scientists at Keio University and the Broad Institute have discovered 18 bacterial strains capable of treating antibiotic-resistant gut infections. This breakthrough could pave the way for advanced microbial therapies.
In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature, researchers from Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have identified a unique combination of bacterial strains that could revolutionize the treatment of antibiotic-resistant gut infections. These infections often plague patients suffering from chronic inflammatory intestinal conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, especially those who have been on long-term antibiotic regimens.
The study delves into the persistent issue of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, such as Enterobacteriaceae, which includes harmful bacteria like E. coli and Klebsiella. These bacteria are notorious for causing severe infections in patients, particularly in hospital settings where they can lead to life-threatening systemic infections.
The researchers have now isolated 18 bacterial strains from the stool of healthy individuals that demonstrate a strong potential to suppress the growth of Enterobacteriaceae and mitigate gut inflammation. The strains accomplish this by competing with the harmful bacteria for carbohydrates, thereby preventing them from colonizing the intestine.
Marie-Madlen Pust, a computational postdoctoral researcher at Broad and co-first author of the paper, explained the significance of this collaborative achievement.
“Despite two decades of microbiome research, we are just beginning to understand how to define health-promoting features of the gut microbiome,” she said in a news release.
This study marks a significant stride towards understanding the functional characteristics of beneficial microbes that foster gut health.
The research team tested the efficacy of these 18 strains in mice infected with E. coli or Klebsiella. They discovered that these bacterial strains not only suppressed the harmful bacteria but also altered the expression of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, indicating increased microbial competition for nutrients.
“Microbiome studies can often consist of analyzing collections of genetic sequences, without understanding what each gene does or why certain microbes are beneficial,” co-senior author Ramnik Xavier, a core institute member at Broad, said in the news release. “Trying to uncover that function is the next frontier, and this is a nice first step towards figuring out how microbial metabolites influence health and inflammation.”
The study’s findings could pave the way for developing refined microbial transplants to manage antibiotic-resistant bacteria with greater specificity and fewer side effects than current treatments. Unlike conventional antibiotics, which tend to eliminate both harmful and beneficial bacteria, this new method targets only the pathogenic bacteria, preserving the overall health of the microbiome.
The collaborative study involved sophisticated culture techniques and animal models from Keio University, as well as advanced software developed by the Xavier lab to analyze unknown microbial metabolites. It also included analyzing samples from pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis, revealing higher levels of gluconate in those with active inflammation, suggesting a critical role for gluconate as a nutrient for Enterobacteriaceae.
This breakthrough extends beyond merely fighting drug-resistant infections. It reveals how we might harness the power of microbial communities to adjust the gut’s ecological balance, offer protective benefits and reduce inflammation, thus improving the quality of life for those afflicted by chronic intestinal conditions.
As the team continues to investigate the complex interactions within the gut microbiome, this study represents a promising leap forward in the quest for innovative microbial therapies, bringing hope to many who suffer persistently from these challenging infections.