Reprogramming the “Hot Zone” -Scientists Engineer Deadly Bacteria To Aid Mankind

A favorite Sci-Fi sub-plot involves the good guys getting a hold of the bad guy’s evil robot, reprogramming it and then using it back against the bad guys.

Scientists are now doing basically the same thing, only in this true-life story the evil robot figure is replaced by very real, deadly bacteria. Scientists have discovered how to reprogram E. coli with the intention to eventually use reprogrammed bacteria to treat serious medical conditions, among other fantastic uses.

These scientists were able to take advantage of the microbe's natural ability to hone in on specific chemicals in its environment. Justin Gallivan, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry and graduate student Shana Topp, successfully reprogrammed E. coli's chemo-navigational system to detect, follow and localize to specific chemical signals in a very precise manner.

There are many health and environment related issues that could eventually benefit greatly from this breakthrough. The bacteria are turned from foe to friend- just like the evil robot. The door to a powerful new solution to drug delivery, environmental cleanup and new forms of synthetic biology has officially been opened.

"Equipping bacteria with a way to degrade pollutants, synthesize and release therapeutics, or transport chemicals with an ability to localize to a specific chemical signal would open new frontiers in environmental cleanup, drug delivery and synthetic biology," says Gallivan.

Chemotactic bacteria are able to navigate through chemical environments by combining their information-processing capabilities with robust tiny molecular motors, which propel the cells forward. The E. coli was equipped with a "riboswitch," a segment of RNA that allows genes to be turned on or off. Gallivan and Topp believe that this method can be used to equip more types of self-propelled bacteria with customized chemo-navigation systems.

Researchers have long hoped for the capability to reprogram bacteria. The possibilities are quite incredible. Microbes could be used to target diseased cells without causing collateral damage to healthy cells. This could lead to particularly effective cancer treatments, with fewer side effects. Scientists are also researching ways to use bacteria to remove pollutants from soil, and water.

Dr. Gallivan predicts, "This new ability to equip motile bacteria with a precise and tunable chemo-navigation system will greatly enhance the impressive arsenal of natural and engineered cell behaviors."

Posted by Rebecca Sato.

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Comments

[RayCeeYa]

Most subspecies of E. coli aren't dangerous. In fact if I tested your kitchen sink right now it is probably crawling with benign E. coli. The particular subspecies that causes food born illness in most cases is E. coli 0157:H7.

In the decades since the development of PCR E. coli has become the one of most studied organism in history on the genetic level. It was one of the first species to have it's entire genome studied. It has also been subjected to more recombinant genetic techniques than any other species.

I'm sorry but comparing the genetic modification of E. coli to the "Hot Zone" is irresponsible sensationalism.