Scientists at Stanford University have genetically modified the common gut bacterium Phocaeicola vulgatus to break down oxalate, the main cause of kidney stones, as reported in Science and covered by Science News Today.
The altered bacteria metabolize oxalate in the gut, stopping it from reaching the kidneys and forming painful crystals.
This approach stands out due to its safety feature: the bacteria need porphyran, a seaweed-derived sugar humans can’t digest, to thrive.
Researchers can control their activity by adjusting porphyran in the diet—without it, the bacteria die off naturally. In rat tests, the treatment cut urinary oxalate by 47%, and in human-like models with conditions like gastric bypass-induced hyperoxaluria, it fully prevented oxalate spikes.
Early human trials look promising, but further studies are needed before it’s ready for clinical use.
