Unspecified bacterial enzyme in gut microbiota

The gut microbiota functions as a virtual organ with a metabolic repertoire that significantly exceeds that of the human liver, containing enzymes that can chemically modify a wide range of therapeutic agents (Spanogiannopoulos et al., 2016). These enzymes, including glucuronidases, reductases, and decarboxylases, influence drug bioavailability, clinical efficacy, and the profile of adverse effects (Zimmermann et al., 2019). For example, the inhibition of bacterial beta-glucuronidase has been shown to prevent the intestinal toxicity associated with the chemotherapy drug irinotecan by preventing the reactivation of its toxic metabolite in the gut (Wallace et al., 2010). While 'Unspecified bacterial enzyme' is a generic descriptor rather than a single molecular entity, specific enzymes within this category are increasingly recognized as druggable targets for precision medicine. Strategies targeting these enzymes aim to modulate the pharmacomicrobiomics of a patient to optimize drug response and minimize toxicity without broadly depleting the commensal flora (Koppel et al., 2017).

Other names

Gut microbial enzymesCommensal bacterial enzymesMicrobiome-derived enzymesIntestinal microflora enzymes

Modulation of drug pharmacokinetics and toxicity through the inhibition or activation of microbial metabolic pathways.