Dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, caused by an imbalance in the natural beneficial microbial population, often translates to serious health issues, including infection and inflammatory issues. This dysbiosis could be ameliorated with the addition of butyrate to the lower gut – studies have indicated that butyrate supports the integrity of the gut barrier, reduces inflammation, and helps regulate immune responses. It is also thought to promote a balanced gut microbiome by inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Delivering an effective dose of butyrate to the intestine could be achieved through the introduction of butyrogenic bacteria, such as C. butyricum, which is a popular probiotic. Creating a more effective strain that produces more butyrate with a lower dosage could be a powerful addition to the current arsenal of probiotics.
To achieve this, in a project funded by Innovate UK, we successfully used engineering biology techniques to generate a hyper-butyrate-producing strain of C. butyricum. We used a method that created a clean gene knockout with no residual DNA remaining, which is very important for downstream use. This strain produced 25% more butyrate than the original strain with no significant impact on growth. Using next generation sequencing, we screened the mutant and found that there were no identifiable toxins, virulence factors, or antibiotic resistance markers, which indicates that the strain has a good safety profile.
We also identified other potential genes that may be targeted in the future for an even better effect. We are very excited about this new strain, and the impact that it may have on the probiotics market.
We are currently seeking partners to develop and test this strain. If you are interested in finding out more please get in touch!
Creating a more effective strain that produces more butyrate with a lower dosage could be a powerful addition to the current arsenal of probiotics.