<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

This month's Gastroenterology (actually the first, Number 5, of TWO May
issues, Numbers 5 and 6) contains an interesting free editorial on
genetically engineered probiotics.  Quoting from the editorial:

"These investigators previously created a nonpathogenic strain of E coli
expressing on its surface a lipopolysaccharide bearing a terminal
trisaccharide sequence that had high binding affinity for Shiga toxin. When
mice were colonized with this harmless E coli strain, they were completely
protected from hemorrhagic enteritis caused by a virulent strain of Shiga
toxin-producing E coli. The probiotic protected because the decoy receptor
bound Shiga toxin in the intestinal lumen and prevented it from attaching
to intestinal epithelial cells."

Could a genetically engineered probiotic protect celiacs from harmful
gluten peptides?  What if a probiotic were engineered to express decoy
receptors with sequences which bind to and neutralize known harmful gluten
peptide epitopes?  Such a probiotic would be preferable over pills which
must be taken with every meal to prevent gluten reactions.  The probiotic,
which of course must be consumed on a regular basis, would have a
continuous and lasting protective effect... no need to carry a bottle of
expensive pills around and remember to take them.


Gastroenterology. 2005 May;128(5):1509-12.
Genetically engineered probiotics: a new twist on an old remedy.
Taylor CP, Lamont JT.

Gastroenterology home page (Issue Number 5 NOT the current issue, so you
will need to select the issue from the archives):
http://www.gastrojournal.org/

Direct link to free full-text (paste this link together):
http://www2.gastrojournal.org/scripts/om.dll/serve?
action=searchDB&searchDBfor=art&artType=fullfree&id=as0016508505005755

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