Innovative Synthetic Extremophiles Boost Stability of Microbial Therapeutics

Microorganisms , especially extremophiles , play a crucial role in various fields such as medicine and agriculture . A recent study conducted by investigators from Brigham and Women 's Hospital and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ) focused on developing synthetic extremophiles to enhance the stability of microbial therapeutics . These formulations are designed to withstand extreme temperatures , harsh manufacturing processes , and even radiation exposure , ensuring that microbial products like probiotics remain viable and effective over time.

The team 's research aimed to address the challenges faced in sending materials like probiotics into space and improving the treatment of gastrointestinal ( GI ) and metabolic diseases . By creating synthetic extremophiles , which are a combination of microbes and different materials , they were able to make microbial therapeutics shelf - stable without the need for refrigeration . This development could have transformative implications for various sectors including healthcare , agriculture , and space exploration.

mentioned corresponding author Giovanni Traverso , who is a gastroenterologist at Brigham 's Division of Gastroenterology , Hepatology , and Endoscopy as well as a faculty member at MIT 's Department of Mechanical Engineering . The team 's approach eliminates the costly and limiting requirement for temperature - controlled supply chain processes , making it a promising solution for ensuring the efficacy of microbial products.

Through extensive testing of over 2,000 material microbe combinations , the researchers identified unique stabilizers for three types of bacteria and one yeast that are commonly used in medicine and agriculture . These synthetic extremophiles were subjected to various manufacturing processes like freezing , drying , and milling to determine the ingredients that helped maximize their viability and stability . The results showed that these microorganisms not only survived extreme conditions but also maintained their potency and function for extended periods without refrigeration.

The team 's future work will involve further developing these systems and exploring their potential applications in women 's health and neonatal care , with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation . By leveraging the unique properties of extremophiles , the researchers hope to deploy these synthetic microbes across a wide range of areas to benefit society . Their findings have been published in the journal Nature Materials , showcasing the innovative approach to enhancing the stability of microbial therapeutics in extreme environments.