Engineered bacterial platform for in situ mRNA delivery to mammalian cells

Background

Genetic medicine depends on the ability to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) into mammalian cells to enable therapeutic protein expression, correct genetic defects, or produce antigens for vaccines. But current delivery systems face critical barriers that limit their clinical utility. DNA plasmid-based approaches often show poor transfection efficiency, while synthetic mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles typically requires injection, which restricts dosing flexibility and mucosal access. These synthetic carriers may also suffer from limited cell-targeting capabilities and stability concerns, posing obstacles to scalable, patient-friendly treatments.

Technology overview

This technology uses engineered bacteria to directly deliver mRNA into mammalian cells, offering a new paradigm for genetic material delivery. The bacterial carriers are non-pathogenic strains capable of cytoplasmic entry into host cells. Once inside, they synthesize circular mRNA in situ using group I introns, which is then released into the host cytoplasm for translation into therapeutic proteins. This system bypasses the need for DNA intermediates or synthetic RNA formulations. It enables oral or injectable administration and supports broad applications including vaccines, autoimmune therapies, metabolic disease treatment, and cancer immunotherapy. Human safety data is available for the bacterial strains used, providing a strong foundation for clinical translation.