Engineered 'Living Medicine' Targets Drug-Resistant Lung Infections in Animal Study

A collaborative study by the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and Hospital Clínic-IDIBAPS has demonstrated that a "living medicine"—a genetically modified bacterium—can significantly reduce drug-resistant biofilms in the lungs of pigs. Published in the journal eBioMedicine, the research used an engineered version of Mycoplasma pneumoniae to target Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common cause of hospital-acquired infections that often resist standard antibiotics.

While these results are promising, the study was conducted on pigs rather than humans. Although pig lungs share structural and immune similarities with human lungs, first-in-human safety trials are still required. This experimental stage focuses on thinning the protective bacterial layers, or biofilms, that form on medical equipment. These layers often prevent standard intravenous antibiotics from reaching the underlying infection.

The researchers modified a naturally occurring lung bacterium to act as a delivery vehicle for therapeutic molecules. This engineered organism produces enzymes that dissolve the sugars holding the biofilm together and releases toxins specifically designed to kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the study, the treatment was delivered via a nebulizer and reduced biofilm thickness on endotracheal tubes by approximately 40%.

Observations showed no damage to the animals' lung tissue or disruption of their natural airway bacteria. This precision suggests the treatment could specifically target pathogens without the broad-spectrum side effects often associated with traditional antibiotics. Researchers hope this approach will eventually provide a new line of defense against ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients.

What to know: This research is in the early animal-testing phase and is not yet available for human use. Always consult a healthcare professional regarding the treatment of respiratory infections or hospital-acquired conditions.