Synergy of Invasive Escherichia coli and Cationic Lipids for Gene Delivery to Human Cells: Genetic Supplementation of ⍺-Galactosidase A Deficiency in Fabry Disease

Human genetic diseases can potentially be treated by replacing damaged or defective DNA. It is however extraordinarily difficult to introduce foreign DNA into living organisms. My project focused on developing a well-known bacteria species called Escherichia coli (E. coli) to efficiently deliver engineered DNA into human cells. I tested combining E. coli with reagents called lipids, which are naturally attracted to cells. These lipids were able to significantly improve the ability of E. coli to deliver therapeutic DNA; providing insights into the potential for the use of bacteria in molecular therapy.