Therapeutic Protein Delivery Prevents Diabetic Complications in Preclinical Models

A bacterium commonly found in fermented foods can be used to deliver therapeutic protein and prevent a common, sight-stealing diabetic complication in mice, University of Florida Health researchers have found. If clinical studies also succeed, such genetically engineered probiotics could be an effective and affordable treatment option for diabetic complications in humans, the researchers said.

“The bacterium’s role is significant and promising for several reasons. It is relatively easy to engineer in large quantities, ability to survive in the digestive tract, and is already being used in food such as yogurt and cheese as well as probiotic supplements,” said Qiuhong Li, Ph.D., an ophthalmology researcher in the UF College of Medicine.

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