Jayateerth S. Bhavikatti, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune.
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) is a causative agent for diarrhoea and colitis (colon inflammation) and its infection occurs usually during or soon after the administration of antibiotics. This happens as a result of wiping out the gut microbiome. In the US, nearly 30,000 people die annually from C. diff infection. Two major toxins of C. diff are TcdA and TcdB. One way to combat C. diff is through monoclonal antibodies against both these toxins. The procedure for producing monoclonal antibodies is quite tough. What if we had a better and a feasible alternative to fight C. diff infection?
A study lead by Hanping Feng, a microbiologist at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry has come up with a very feasible, easy and an inexpensive way to answer this puzzle. They have used a genetically modified strain of the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii, to be taken as a probiotic. The S. boulardii produces antibodies against the two toxins of C. diff in our gut. The results are very promising in mice model. So it is like eating the yeast that produces required antibodies against C. diff. Feng also says that the clinical trials would begin in about the next three months. Although the challenge is, getting approval from the US-FDA for administering genetically modified yeast, which is the first of its kind. Let us hope for the best.
Also read: WILL COVID-19 VACCINE WORK?
References:
- Di Bella S, Ascenzi P, Siarakas S, Petrosillo N, di Masi A. Clostridium difficile Toxins A and B: Insights into Pathogenic Properties and Extraintestinal Effects. Toxins (Basel). 2016 May 3;8(5):134. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/toxins8050134. PMID: 27153087; PMCID: PMC4885049.
- https://www.cdc.gov/cdiff/index.html
- https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/antibody-producing-yeast-vanquishes-deadly-gut-infection-mice
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