Written by Alimat Aliyeva
A research team from East China Normal University in Shanghai has developed an oral modified probiotic that could offer a completely new approach to treating diabetes. The drug is based on a microorganism equipped with a glucose intelligence function called GIFT – glucose recognition and functional response. The system is designed to detect changes in blood glucose levels and respond accordingly, Azerbaijannews Reports.
The study was conducted by scientists from the university’s College of Biological Sciences, and the results were published in the journal Nature on August 12.
Using synthetic biology, the researchers modified a probiotic strain with a long history of safe use and turned it into what they describe as a “virtual smart organ.” Probiotics, taken orally, can monitor fluctuations in blood glucose and automatically release glucose-lowering hormones when needed. This may allow the treatment to adjust its response to the patient’s glucose levels in real time, rather than relying on a fixed dose.
Diabetes has become one of the major chronic metabolic diseases in the world. According to the International Diabetes Federation, more than 530 million adults worldwide currently live with diabetes, and this number may rise to more than 850 million by 2050.
China also faces a major diabetes challenge, with about 120 million people suffering from the disease.
What makes GIFT technology particularly interesting is its ability to turn simple probiotics into a miniature biological “control system” within the body. If further studies confirm its safety and effectiveness, this approach could eventually lead to treatments that automatically respond to changes in a patient’s metabolism, making diabetes management more personalized and potentially reducing the need for constant manual adjustments.
Researchers say this technology could represent a new direction in smart medicine, combining synthetic biology with precision therapy and bringing scientists one step closer to developing treatments that can “sense” what the body needs and react accordingly.
