These results point to a promising and easily implemented treatment for type 1 diabetes. With simple oral dosing, no significant background expression, and glucose responsiveness, the use of recombinant commensal strains may significantly reduce or even eliminate the need for insulin injection and could help to reduce the long-term complications exhibited by diabetics by replacing host insulin synthesis.
impact statement issue
impact statement response
Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (Nissle) was engineered to secrete the insulinotropic proteins glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox gene 1 (PDX-1). Epithelia stimulated by recombinant Nissle strains and glucose secreted up to 1 ng mL-1 of insulin with no significant background secretion.
impact statement summary
The research has shown that commensal bacteria can respond to glucose by stimulating intestinal epithelia cells to secrete insulin, possibly offering a treatment alternative that would eliminate the need for insulin injections.
