Grant: Operating Grant

Recent changes in human diet and lifestyle have resulted in a dramatic increase in number of diabetics worldwide. The continuous use of currently available synthetic drugs has associated limitations. This proposal is an attempt to address the urgent need to develop a safe, natural and economical strategy to treat or prevent the emerging global epidemic of type 2 diabetes. A novel oral artificial cell microcapsule formulation incorporating live feruloyl esterase active probiotic bacterial cells has been developed. We have obtained very encouraging preliminary results indicating the potential of this formulation in type 2 diabetes. Here, we propose to investigate the feasibility, suitability, mode of action and pre-clinical efficacy of this formulation in an experimental animal model. If successful, this formulation will be used to treat and/or prevent type 2 diabetes. In addition, this study will be a step towards exploiting the important potential of non-pathogenic FAE active bacterial cells for future clinical applications.