Nov. 14 Preclinical Quick Takes: Gut microbe-targeting phage for alcoholic liver disease; plus Cellectis, Biomica, University of Michigan and Rubius

Bacteriophages for alcoholic liver disease
In a study described in Nature, University of California San Diego researchers identified a strain of gut microbiome member Enterococcus faecalis that expresses the exotoxin cytolysin as a target for alcohol-induced liver disease. Colonization with patient-derived cytolysin-positive E. faecalis increased liver injury, steatosis and inflammation induced by chronic ethanol consumption, and treatment with bacteriophages targeting the bacteria reduced the symptoms.

Cellectis boosts CAR Ts with IL-12 secretion
Cellectis S.A. (Euronext:ALCLS; NASDAQ:CLLS) has reported in Nature Communications that CAR T cells engineered to express the active IL-12 heterodimer from the PD-1 locus, simultaneously knocking out PD-1, could enhance tumor killing. In a mouse model of lymphoma, the engineered CAR Ts decreased tumor growth and extended survival compared with standard CAR T cells. ...