<p>During our brainstorming process, we realized the mighty potency of synthetic biology in medical treatments, especially in the therapy development of <b>inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)</b>, one of the hardest-to-cure conditions in the world. Thanks to the well-understood genetics and its efficient heterologous protein expression capacity, Saccharomyces cerevisiae appears to be a promising chassis organism for developing biological therapies for IBD. Additionally, various synthetic biology components enable us to design multiple control systems, achieving precise and comprehensive control over the treatment. Viewing IBD treatments from a brand-new aspect, we found that biological therapy obtains tremendous advantages not found in traditional chemical drugs. As a result, we have chosen IBD therapy as our project focus of this year.</p>
<p>During our brainstorming process, we realized the mighty potency of synthetic biology in medical treatments, especially in the therapy development of <b>inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)</b>, one of the hardest-to-cure conditions in the world. Thanks to the well-understood genetics and its efficient heterologous protein expression capacity, Saccharomyces cerevisiae appears to be a promising chassis organism for developing biological therapies for IBD. Additionally, various synthetic biology components enable us to design multiple control systems, achieving precise and comprehensive control over the treatment. Viewing IBD treatments from a brand-new aspect, we found that biological therapy obtains tremendous advantages not found in traditional chemical drugs. As a result, we have chosen IBD therapy as our project focus of this year.</p>
<p>Comprising of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD), IBD is a chronic, incurable disease affecting people of all ages worldwide. According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), there was a notable increase of 175,904 individuals diagnosed with IBD from 1990 to 2021. Over 1 million residents in the USA and 2.5 million in Europe are estimated to have IBD, with substantial costs for health care. IBD patients normally suffer from abdominal pain and diarrhea, combined with intermittent fever and various extraintestinal symptoms such as arthritis. Besides, IBD is well-known for its complex and unclear pathogenesis, which also explains why no common and satisfying therapy exists.</p>
<p>Comprising of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn's Disease (CD), IBD is a chronic, incurable disease affecting people of all ages worldwide. According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), there was a notable increase of 175,904 individuals diagnosed with IBD from 1990 to 2021. Over 1 million residents in the USA and 2.5 million in Europe are estimated to have IBD, with substantial costs for health care. IBD patients normally suffer from abdominal pain and diarrhea, combined with intermittent fever and various extraintestinal symptoms such as arthritis. Besides, IBD is well-known for its complex and unclear pathogenesis, which also explains why no common and satisfying therapy exists.</p>
<p>In our research effort, we discovered that abnormal immune response triggered by the intestinal flora is strongly related to the disease. Meanwhile, recent studies have revealed that <b>lactate</b> can stabilize HIF-1α, which further limits mtROS production and finally reduces CNS autoimmunity. Because of its capability of relieving the inflammation in the intestine, we consider lactate as a promising micromolecular to treat IBD.</p>
<p>In our research effort, we discovered that abnormal immune response triggered by the intestinal flora is strongly related to the disease. Meanwhile, recent studies have revealed that <b>lactate</b> can stabilize HIF-1α, which further limits mtROS production and finally reduces CNS autoimmunity. Because of its capability of relieving the inflammation in the intestine, we consider lactate as a promising micromolecular to treat IBD.</p>
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<p>In recognition of the limitations of current IBD therapy, we embarked on a journey to harness the power of synthetic biology in developing a biological therapy, which we named “MusCure” as the abbreviation of “Muscone to Cure”. Our primary objective was to engineer yeast capable of specifically colonizing at the inflammatory sites of the intestine and delivering lactate in response to the signals of muscone.</p>
<p>In recognition of the limitations of current IBD therapy, we embarked on a journey to harness the power of synthetic biology in developing a biological therapy, which we named “MusCure” as the abbreviation of “Muscone to Cure”. Our primary objective was to engineer yeast capable of specifically colonizing at the inflammatory sites of the intestine and delivering lactate in response to the signals of muscone.</p>
<p>Based on the published paper and our patient interviews, oral administration has many drawbacks. For instance, parts of IBD patients have difficulty in swallowing the pills, and given the vulnerable intestine of the patients, oral administration can cause further nausea or vomiting. To address the shortcomings of oral administration, MusCure offers an <b>“APE” solution: “Affordable, Potential and Efficiency IBD treatment”</b>. The following sections will elucidate how our design accomplishes these goals.</p>
<p>Based on the published paper and our patient interviews, oral administration has many drawbacks. For instance, parts of IBD patients have difficulty in swallowing the pills, and given the vulnerable intestine of the patients, oral administration can cause further nausea or vomiting. To address the shortcomings of oral administration, MusCure offers an <b>“APE” solution: “Affordable, Potential and Efficiency IBD treatment”</b>. The following sections will elucidate how our design accomplishes these goals.</p>
