Establishing a Cell-Free Synthetic Biology Platform to Detect, Eliminate, and Reprogram Oncogenic Bacteria in Colorectal Cancer

Overview

Recent studies show that certain bacteria within the tumor microbiome contribute to cancer progression and therapy resistance. However, these oncogenic bacteria are neither detected nor selectively eliminated during cancer treatment. Current approaches rely on microbiome sequencing and broad-spectrum antibiotics, which do not provide the resolution needed for effective intervention: sequencing cannot distinguish oncogenic strains from commensals, and antibiotics lack the precision for targeted removal. These limitations highlight a key technological gap: we lack tools to detect and intervene with the precision required for effective cancer treatment.

To address this gap, this proposal outlines a cell-free synthetic biology approach to develop precise tools for effective cancer intervention. By decoupling gene expression from the constraints of living cells, cell-free systems enable rapid engineering cycles, host-independent expression, and direct manipulation of biological components typically inaccessible in living cells. The central hypothesis is that a cell-free platform will enable rapid development of strategies to sensitively detect, selectively eliminate, and functionally reprogram oncogenic bacteria, thereby turning the tumor microbiome into actionable diagnostic and therapeutic axes in cancer treatment.

Current Participants:

Funding

Supported by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), Recruitment of First-Time, Tenure-Track Faculty Members

Agency: CPRIT
Grant #: RR260076
Primary Site: Rice University
Start date: pending
End date: pending + 5 years
Reporting: Annual