BACTERIA genetically modified to make a drug have been given to people for the first time. The bacteria are designed to treat inflammatory bowel disease by producing a human immune protein that dampens inflammation.
GM bacteria are widely used to make food and drugs. But the prospect of drug-producing gut bugs getting into the wrong people or swapping genes with other bacteria is of particular concern (Â鶹´«Ã½, 15 June 2002, p 26). To address such fears, the bugs have been altered so that although they can thrive in the human gut, they should die within days when discharged…
