Engineered probiotic to reduce alcohol-related leaky gut and endotoxin
Official title: Lactobacillus-vectored Alkaline Phosphatase to Mitigate Alcohol-induced Leaky Gut and LPS Endotoxin Load in the Gut
Funded at Biomedit LLC · NIH-11330304 · Data updated 2026-11-12
An engineered Lactobacillus that delivers an enzyme to the gut to help reduce alcohol-related leakiness and toxic bacterial endotoxin in people with alcoholic liver disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Biomedit LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fishers, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $253,323 |
| NIH project number | 5R43AA032131-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330304 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with heavy alcohol use or early-stage alcoholic liver disease who are interested in gut-targeted therapies would be the most likely candidates for this approach.
✕Less likely to help
People with advanced liver failure, severe immunosuppression, a history of harmful reactions to probiotics, or liver disease unrelated to alcohol may not benefit from this therapy.
What this research studies
This project develops an engineered Lactobacillus probiotic that carries intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) to the gut to neutralize bacterial endotoxin (LPS) and strengthen the intestinal barrier. The team builds on prior mouse work showing oral IAP or Lactobacillus delivery can lower LPS and reduce liver fat and inflammation. The company will optimize the bacterial delivery system to survive the stomach and supply enzyme directly in the intestine and will test activity, stability, and safety in preclinical models. If those steps succeed, the product could move toward human testing for people with alcohol-related gut and liver problems.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lower gut leakiness and endotoxin-driven inflammation and may help prevent or slow alcohol-related liver injury.
How similar studies have gone: Oral alkaline phosphatase and probiotic delivery have shown benefit in animal models of alcohol injury, but human data are limited and this engineered Lactobacillus approach is early-stage and novel for people.
Where this research is happening
-
Biomedit LLC
Fishers, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gangaiah, Dharanesh — Biomedit LLC
- Study coordinator: Gangaiah, Dharanesh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Using Lactobacillus to reduce gut issues caused by alcohol consumption
This study is looking at how a special type of good bacteria can help protect your gut from the harmful effects of alcohol, with the hope that it can improve gut health and reduce inflammation for people who drink regularly.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.