Flavonoid producing gut bacteria

Presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness, is the most common eye disease. It is a hindrance to the day-to-day activities of more than 1.8 billion people around the globe up to the year 2015. Presbyopia is caused by a decrease in the concentration of alpha-crystallin and the accumulation of oxidative stress in the lens. This oxidative stress results in the hardening of the lens of the eye, resulting in difficulty focusing on objects nearby. Studies show that the daily intake of antioxidants—specifically, bioflavonoids—prevents the hardening of the lens. Our bodies do not produce flavonoids naturally. We gain most of our flavonoids through foods like citrus fruits, onions, and green tea. Quercetin is recognized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties. Our project genetically engineers Bifidobacterium, a probiotic ubiquitous in the human gastrointestinal tract, to produce quercetin within our bodies. Quercetin then travels from the gut to the eyes, forming an in-situ flavonoid production and delivery system, inhibiting the accumulation of oxidative stress and preventing lens hardening. The potential pharmaceutical uses of quercetin have been extensively studied in labs and have demonstrated its positive effects. However, it’s not yet widely employed in the fields of medicine. Our project would provide a permanent, cost-effective, nonsurgical treatment for presbyopia.