[LUM#10] A revolution in contraception
Nine students from Montpellier are working on a revolutionary method of contraception: a genetically modified vaginal bacterium. Called Vagineering "the innovation has won an award at the prestigious International Genetically Engineered Machine competition(IGEM).
"Despite the immense progress made since the invention of contraception, there is currently no method that can be considered perfect," explains biology student Léo Carrillo. Developing an innovative contraception is the project of this young man and his eight colleagues, who took part in the IGEM competition in Boston with a novel concept: bacterial contraception.
"We wondered whether synthetic biology could help improve the contraceptive offer," explains Léo Carrillo. That's how the idea that's worth its weight in gold came about: genetically modifying a bacterium in the vaginal microbiota to make it play a contraceptive role.
Contraceptive bacteria
The first step was to identify the bacteria that would be the best candidate. " The vaginal flora is not universal, it varies from one woman to another, so we looked for the bacteria most widespread in all populations", explains the student. In the end, Lactobacillus jensenii won the day.
To turn this bacterium into a means of contraception, the students imagine genetically modifying Lactobacillus jensenii so that it produces molecules that prevent spermatozoa from moving, making fertilization impossible. " To do this, we'd need to introduce a gene into the bacterium that codes for a spermicidal molecule," explains the student.
This innovation would be a revolution for thousands of women not satisfied with the current contraceptive offer: "no side effects, no need to remember to take a pill every day, a single inoculation into the vaginal microbiota would ensure effective contraception over the long term", explains Léo Carrillo.
Gold medal
And if you want to become pregnant? "This bacterial contraception has to be reversible, so we've designed a switch system to put an end to the action of these bacteria. This project won over the jury of the MIT international competition, where the Montpellier students won the gold medal and the jury's grand prize. " The project is totally innovative, nothing like it has ever been done before", says Léo Carrillo, who is now studying for a Master's degree in cellular and molecular biology at the Sorbonne. Genetic modification of vaginal bacteria could even have other virtues. "It's not beyond the realms of possibility to implement other modifications to treat vaginal infections - microbiome engineering is still in its infancy!
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