BRING-SynBio: Erythritol-Driven and Spatiotemporal-Controlled Probiotics for Precise Delivery of Checkpoint-Blocking Nanobodies

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $300,000 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) is a type of antibody. It is primarily active in controlling infection in body tissues. It actively binds viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Nanobodies (Nbs) are fragments of IgG. Some nanobodies exhibit anti-cancer activity. Bacteria can be modified to produce Nbs and one of these, E. coli Nissle 1917 (EcN), has been shown to selectively colonize tumor tissue. This project will develop two gene circuits in EcN. The first will sense signals in the tumor microenvironment and respond by synthesizing antitumor NBs. The second circuit will sense the presence of the artificial sweetener erythritol and will break open the bacterial cell, releasing the Nbs and killing the bacteria and the tumor cells. If successful, this could be adapted to a range of solid tumors. which are very difficult to treat with conventional therapies. The project includes extensive educational and outreach components, offering hands-on research opportunities for students and trainees at multiple levels. The technical thrust is to program a probiotic strain with multi-input genetic circuits. These circuits couple therapeutic nanobody expression with regulated release. The system targets two immune checkpoint receptors, PD-1 and LAG-3. It is designed to operate by applying exogenous erythritol to induce bacterial lysis and release of the therapeutic Nbs into the tumor microenvironment. Erythritol, artificial sweetener not naturally present in tumors, offers a reliable external trigger to

Key facts

NSF award ID
2514387
Awardee
Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TX)
SAM.gov UEI
QD1MX6N5YTN4
PI
Qing Sun
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Quantitative sys bio and biotech
Estimated total
$300,000
Funds obligated
$300,000
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
09/01/2025 → 08/31/2029