Advances in synthetic biology have led to the engineering of microbes that can treat a rare inherited disease called phenylketonuria (PKU). Generally, engineered bacteria have been used for more industrial purposes, such as for antibiotics production or to develop compounds that are used in textiles. But, recently, researchers have been looking for ways to utilize synthetic biology to treat illnesses. The microbes to tackle PKU has been developed by Synlogic, and may be the first synthetic biology medical product that gets approved by the US FDA.

PKU occurs when the body is unable to break down phenylalanine, an amino acid that is a byproduct of dietary protein. This results in a buildup of phenylalanine in the blood, which can lead to the damage of neurons and the brain. In animal experiments, Synlogic’s bacteria treatment showed potential as a treatment for PKU, with researchers now moving forward with a clinical trial that is scheduled to produce initial results next year.

Until now, gene therapy was only studied as a treatment for PKU but had not moved beyond animal studies. While many other researchers and companies are working on similar synthetic biology initiatives, Synlogic has been leading the efforts. Future synthetic biology projects that researchers are collaborating on include engineering bacteria to fight cancer.

Source: The New York Times