The Technology
This innovative platform focuses on phase variations (PV) dictated by a reversible genomic mechanism that bacteria use to adapt to changing environments in order to alter gene expression states. PV directly impacts bacterial surface components, immune evasion, and microbe-host interactions. Initial studies have identified specific genomic inversion patterns in bacterial populations that correlate with immune response modulation and disease states in cancer.
The technology also demonstrates the potential for diagnostic biomarker discovery, with early data highlighting unique PV-driven microbial signatures that can differentiate healthy individuals from those with inflammatory or immune-mediated conditions. Furthermore, engineered bacterial strains with “locked” PV states have shown promise for targeted therapeutic applications.
Advantages
- Dynamic precision – harnessing bacteria’s natural adaptability for targeted diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Applicable to a broad range of conditions.
- Non-invasive diagnostics – phase variation-based biomarkers allow for simple, cost-effective, and non-invasive monitoring.
Applications & Opportunities
- Early detection and treatment autoimmune & inflammatory disorders such as IBD.
- Exploring the gut-brain axis to develop diagnostics and therapeutics for psychiatric disorders.
- Personalized medicine – tailored live biotherapeutics (LBPs) to modulate the microbiome.
Business Development Contacts