UCLA researchers from the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology have developed a microbiome-based therapy for methylmercury detoxification, leveraging a genetically engineered probiotic that neutralizes methlymercury in the gut prior to systemic absorption with potential applications in acute detoxification, preventative healthcare, and environmental remediation.
BACKGROUND: Methylmercury (MeHg) is a persistent environmental contaminant that bioaccumulates in aquatic ecosystems and biomagnifies through the food chain, leading to widespread dietary exposure. The primary route of human exposure is seafood consumption, particularly large predatory fish such as tuna and swordfish. While MeHg exposure poses a risk to all individuals, pregnant individuals, developing fetuses, and young children are especially vulnerable, as MeHg readily crosses the placenta and blood-brain barrier, leading to irreversible neurocognitive impairment and metabolic dysregulation. Despite regulatory efforts to curb mercury emissions, MeHg exposure remains a growing global health problem with no effective preventive interventions. Existing treatment strategies, such as thiol-based chelation therapy, are ineffective for chronic exposure, do not prevent MeHg absorption, and carry the risk of depleting essential trace metals. Additionally, current detoxification strategies fail to neutralize MeHg at its primary point of entry—the gastrointestinal (GI) tract—before it is absorbed into systemic circulation. Thus, a targeted, non-invasive, and scalable solution is needed to mitigate the risks associated with MeHg exposure at the earliest stage possible.
INNOVATION: UCLA researchers have developed a genetically engineered probiotic bacterium designed to neutralize MeHg in the gut before it enters the bloodstream. This microbiome-based approach prevents mercury toxicity at the earliest point of exposure, offering a proactive rather than reactive solution to heavy metal detoxification. Researchers engineered a human commensal gut bacterium, ensuring its compatibility with the intestinal microbiome. The probiotic was engineered to capture and break down MeHg into a form that is poorly absorbed and easily excreted, thereby reducing systemic mercury burden. Unlike conventional chelation therapies that target MeHg after it has already entered circulation, this approach blocks absorption entirely, eliminating the need for invasive interventions or chemical treatments. This innovation offers a safe, non-invasive, and long-term strategy for individuals at risk of mercury exposure, with potential applications in dietary supplements, functional foods, and prenatal care. With a simple oral administration, this probiotic provides a scalable solution for public health intervention, particularly for populations with high seafood consumption or those exposed to environmental mercury contamination.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
- Alternative and/or adjuvant to chelation therapy in acute MeHg intoxication
- Prophylactic supplementation in populations with MeHg exposure (i.e., seafood consumption, mercury contaminated ecosystems)
- Prophylactic supplementation in populations with increased risk for MeHg toxicitiy (i.e., pregnancy, early childhood)
ADVANTAGES:
- Utilizes a naturally occurring human gut bacterium, minimizing risks of adverse effects or microbiome disruption
- Selectively targets MeHg without depleting essential metals like zinc and copper, reducing side effects
- Prevents systemic MeHg accumulation by neutralizing it at the primary site of absorption in the gut
- Non-invasive, orally administered, and easily scalable, enabling broad prophylactic use in high-risk populations
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE: The engineered bacterium has been rigorously tested in various in vitro and in vivo models, including chronic dietary exposure and pregnant murine models.
KEYWORDS: Mercury Detox, Methylmercury, Probiotics, Gut Microbiome, Heavy Metal Detoxification, Food Safety, Maternal Health, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Prenatal Supplementation, Chelation Therapy Alternative, Occupational Exposure, Public Health Innovation, Microbiome Engineering