Using lab evolution to develop novel probiotics-based therapeutics

Microbes are found almost anywhere in nature and the they play important roles in many ecosystems. Our ability to develop microbes that perform desired functions can be used to preserve nature and to improve human health. In my talk I will demonstrate how lab evolution can rapidly select for new bacterial features like regulatory sequences and de novo biochemical capabilities. In particular, I will describe who microbes isolated from people can be evolved in to metabolize harmful molecules from our diet. These evolved microbes can then be given to the patient as personalized therapeutics to patients whose stool samples can be verified to be compatible with the evolved microbe. Overall, this approach can lay the first stone towards a new type of remedies that can be applied to various therapeutic and ecological goals.