The Human GI Microbial GUSome, a Constellation of Drug Targets in the Microbiome

Drugs and other potentially harmful chemicals are detoxified by glucuronidation in the liver and sent to the gastrointestinal tract (GI) for elimination. β-glucuronidase (GUS) enzymes expressed by the GI microbiota can then cleave off the glucuronide, reactivating the compounds and causing GI toxicity. In the best-characterized example of such toxicity, reactivation of the chemotherapeutic irinotecan generates its dose-limiting toxicity. We developed potent, non-lethal inhibitors that selectively target bacterial GUS activity and effectively alleviate irinotecan GI toxicity in mice.Bachelor of Scienc