Modified Gut Bacteria Can Produce Insulin to Address Hyperglycemia

[Northerner]

A recent study entitled “Engineered Commensal Bacteria Reprogram Intestinal Cells Into Glucose-Responsive Insulin-Secreting Cells for the Treatment of Diabetes” reveals that an engineered a strain of Lactobacillus producing GLP-1 can promote insulin secretion from intestinal cells and lower hyperglycemia in diabetic rats. The study was published in the journal Diabetes.

A strategy to treat diabetes has focused on reprogramming non-pancreatic β cells into insulin-producing cells. This has been pursued in vitro, but more recently researchers have tried to reprogram cells in vivo by inducing non insulin producing pancreatic cells or even other tissue specific cells, such as rat intestinal epithelial cells, into β cells.

http://diabetesnewsjournal.com/2015...can-produce-insulin-to-address-hyperglycemia/

 

[Copepod]

Most modern insulins have been produced by E. coli bacteria, which is more usually found in intestines, for decades. Lactobacillus is just another bacteria.- and its name should be italicised, as it's a scientific name.