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August 2023
By: Mackenzi Moyes
Recently, bacteria has been engineered to detect the presence of tumour DNA in a live organism, and test trials have seen a massive success! Let’s take a look.
Pushing through a new chapter of technologically advanced biological sensors, scientists from the University of San Diego have engineered bacteria that can detect tumour DNA. Their Innovation successfully detected cancer in colons of mice, and could pave the way to new technological biosensors capable of identifying various diseases, infections, and even cancer.1
Under the CATCH strategy, (Cellular Assay for Targeted CRISPR-discriminated Horizontal gene transfer), researchers engineered bacteria using CRISPR technology to test free-floating DNA sequences on a genomic level. Then to compare samples with pre-determined cancer sequences.
Central to this scientific breakthrough are specially engineered bacteria that have been equipped with the remarkable ability to identify the presence of tumor DNA. These microscopic living detectors are primed to act as sentinels within the human body, seeking out the telltale signs of cancerous growth with unparalleled precision.
"Many bacteria can take up DNA from their environment, a skill known as natural competence," said Rob Cooper, the study's co-first author and a scientist at UC San Diego's Synthetic Biology Institute.
In regards to that statement, they began to formulate the possibility of engineering bacteria, (already prevalent in the colon), as new biosensors that could be positioned inside the gut to detect DNA released from colorectal tumours. Throughout this project, they focused on Acinetobacter baylyi, a bacterium which rightfully identified elements necessary for both taking up DNA and using CRISPR to analyse it.
Working with Australian colleagues, the researchers designed, built, and tested Acinetobacter baylyi as a sensor for identifying DNA from KRAS, a gene that is mutated in many cancers. They programmed the bacterium with a CRISPR system designed to differentiate mutants from normal copies of KRAS.
This research is based on previous ideas related to horizontal gene transfer, a technique used by organisms to move genetic material between one another in a manner distinct from traditional parent-to-offspring genetic inheritance. The researchers achieved their goal of applying this idea from mammalian tumours and human cells into bacteria.2
One of the most promising applications of these bioengineered bacteria is their potential to revolutionise cancer detection. Traditional methods of identifying tumours often rely on invasive procedures and are limited in their ability to detect cancer at its earliest stages. With the introduction of these bacteria, non-invasive and highly accurate detection methods could become a reality, allowing medical professionals to identify tumours before they escalate into more critical stages.
"It was incredible when I saw the bacteria that had taken up the tumour DNA under the microscope. The mice with tumours grew green bacterial colonies that had acquired the ability to grow on antibiotic plates," said Wright. (Image below)3
References
UC San Diego, ‘Researchers Engineer Bacteria That Can Detect Tumour DNA’. https://today.ucsd.edu/story/researchers-engineer-bacteria-that-can-detect-tumor-dna
Science Daily, ‘Researchers Engineer Bacteria That Can Detect Tumour DNA.’ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/08/230810140813.htm
Science.org, ‘Engineered Bacteria detect tumour DNA.’ https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf3974
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