Your gateway to Binding Protein science

Bringing together leading research on Binding Proteins, gut microbiota, and nutrition

How they work together to strengthen the gut and for staying healthy - proactively.

Research Areas

Binding Proteins

Learn about Binding Proteins, a new class of food and dietary ingredient; fermented IgG-derived fragments, developed for precision and gut resilience.

Gut Microbiota and Nutrition

Stay updated and explore the dynamic relationship between nutrition and gut microbiota with the latest scientific research, expert insights, and emerging trends.

Gut Health Challenges

Delve into the factors that disrupt gut health, from enterotoxins to microbial imbalances, along with the consequences and potential solutions for gut dysbiosis.

How ETEC Disables Immune Cells in Pigs to Thrive

A new study published in Veterinary Research reveals how a common diarrheal bacterium, Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), weakens the pig’s immune defenses using one of its toxins. Researchers found that the heat-labile toxin (LT), produced by ETEC, damages important immune cells called monocytes. These cells normally act as first responders by swallowing harmful bacteria and releasing chemical signals to alert the rest of the immune system. The study showed that LT kills monocytes, reduces their ability to destroy bacteria, and blocks the production of reactive oxygen species that help kill invaders. LT also alters the release of key immune signaling molecules, triggering some while suppressing others. In contrast, the heat-stable toxin STa had no harmful effect on monocytes. By impairing these cells, LT helps ETEC avoid detection and destruction, giving the bacteria a better chance to survive and multiply.

Recent Research Found a Surprising Link Between Coffee and Gut Health

Coffee is more than just a daily habit—it may play an active role in shaping a healthier gut. A recent large-scale, multi-cohort study has uncovered a strong and reproducible association between coffee consumption and the enrichment of Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus, a gut microbe linked to anti-inflammatory effects. Using integrated multi-omic data and in vitro experiments, the researchers identified quinic acid—found in coffee—as a potential driver of this microbial response. This study offers compelling evidence of a direct biochemical connection between specific dietary components and beneficial shifts in the gut microbiome.

Gut Dysbiosis Uncovered: How Gut Diversity & Gut Barrier Function Play a Crucial Role in Maintaining Your Health 

Gut Dysbiosis Uncovered: How Gut Diversity & Gut Barrier Function Play a Crucial Role in Maintaining Your Health 

The human gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in maintaining overall health. When the composition and function of this microbial ecosystem become imbalanced, we talk about gut dysbiosis. This imbalance contributes to a dysregulated gut-immune axis, referring to impaired communication and feedback loop between the gut microbiota, intestinal barrier, and the immune system¹.

The Role of Binding Proteins in Gut Health

The Role of Binding Proteins in Gut Health

Gut health is essential for overall well-being, yet lifestyle habits, environmental factors such as diet, and medicines contribute to an increasing prevalence of gut dysbiosis and a compromised gut lining. These disruptions can have significant health implications, ranging from acute digestive discomfort to long-lasting challenges and broader systemic effects1. In fact, the U.S. microbiome has lost over 30% of its bacterial diversity — mainly due to antibiotics and poor diet2, 3.

Protecting the Piglet Gut Microbiota Against ETEC-Mediated Post-Weaning Diarrhoea Using Specific Binding Proteins

Post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD) in piglets presents a widespread problem in industrial pig production and is often caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) strains. Current solutions, such as antibiotics and medicinal zinc oxide, are unsustainable and are increasingly being prohibited, resulting in a dire need for novel solutions. Thus, in this study, we propose and evaluate a protein-based feed additive, comprising two bivalent heavy chain variable domain ($V_{HH}$) constructs ($V_{HH}$-(GGGGS)$_3$-$V_{HH}$, BL1.2 and BL2.2) as an alternative solution to manage PWD. We demonstrate in vitro that these constructs bind to ETEC toxins and fimbriae, whilst they do no affect bacterial growth rate. Furthermore, in a pig study, we show that oral administration of these constructs after ETEC challenge reduced ETEC proliferation when compared to challenged control piglets (1-2 $\log_{10}$ units difference in gene copies and bacterial count/g faeces across day 2–7) and resulted in week 1 enrichment of three bacterial families (Prevotellaceae (estimate: 1.12 $\pm$ 0.25, $q$ = 0.0054), Lactobacillaceae (estimate: 2.86 $\pm$ 0.52, $q$ = 0.0012), and Ruminococcaceae (estimate: 0.66 $\pm$ 0.18, $q$ = 0.049)) within the gut microbiota that appeared later in challenged control piglets, thus pointing to an earlier transition towards a more mature gut microbiota. These data suggest that such $V_{HH}$ constructs may find utility in industrial pig production as a feed additive for tackling ETEC and reducing the risk of PWD in piglet populations.

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