The Naked Scientists Podcast Medicinal microbes for kidney stones, and musky mice
Aug 8, 2025
Discover how engineered gut microbes could revolutionize kidney stone prevention by breaking down oxalic acid. Learn about mice's remarkable ability to sense social hierarchies through smell and behavior. Explore the fascinating dietary habits of dinosaurs analyzed through fossilized teeth, shedding light on their coexistence. Lastly, see how innovations in robotics are inspired by ant behavior, enhancing technology while bridging the gap between ancient and modern systems.
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Engineered Gut Bacteria Break Down Oxalate
- Researchers engineered a common gut bacterium to degrade dietary oxalate before absorption.
- This probiotic approach aims to lower kidney stone formation by reducing oxalate reaching the kidneys.
Porphyran Feeding Secures Gut Colonization
- The bacteria were engineered to use porphyran from red algae, a nutrient other gut microbes lack.
- Feeding porphyran selectively nourishes the therapeutic strain and limits its growth outside treatment.
Urine Oxalate Dropped By ~20–25%
- The engineered bacteria reduced urinary oxalate by about 20–25% in trial patients.
- That magnitude matches prior clinical targets and may lower recurrent stone risk.