Microbial Detox

New study published this week in Nature Microbiology have unveiled an ally in the fight against toxic forever chemicals: our own gut bacteria.

The research, titled "Human gut bacteria bioaccumulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,” reveals that specific species of gut microbes (Bacteroides uniformis) can absorb and sequester PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) - a class of highly persistent industrial chemicals found in everything from non-stick pans to food packaging and firefighting foam. Often dubbed "forever chemicals" due to their resistance to environmental breakdown, PFAS have been linked to a wide range of health problems, including infertility, cancer, immune dysfunction, and developmental issues in children.

The Cambridge-led team demonstrated that certain human gut microbes not only accumulate PFAS rapidly, absorbing between 25% to 74% of the chemicals within minutes of exposure, but also *store them in clusters inside their cells, apparently shielding themselves and their host from toxic effects. In humanized mouse models, these bacteria helped route the PFAS out of the body via feces, offering a possible route for natural detoxification.

Given the widespread nature of PFAS contamination - detected in soil, drinking water, and even rainfall - this discovery could pave the way for next-generation probiotics designed not just to support digestion, but to actively protect us from environmental toxins.

While the PFAS findings are novel, they build on a broader and growing body of research showing that the human microbiome plays a vital role in detoxifying environmental and dietary toxins:

Aflatoxins, potent carcinogens produced by molds in foods like nuts and grains, are neutralized by certain Bifidobacterium strains. These microbes bind aflatoxins in the gut, preventing them from entering the bloodstream.

Studies have shown that Lactobacillus rhamnosus and L. plantarum can bind harmful metals like lead and cadmium, reducing their absorption and enhancing excretion.

Some Clostridium species in the gut and soil can degrade organophosphate pesticides - common residues in fruits and vegetables.

E. coli Nissle 1917 has shown promise in breaking down pharmaceutical residues, including NSAIDs, that accumulate in the environment and our water systems.

Akkermansia, a beneficial gut microbe, strengthens the gut lining and prevents leak of endotoxins—pro-inflammatory molecules—from the gut into the bloodstream.

This new PFAS study signals an important shift in how we think about managing toxic exposures. For decades, the focus has been on avoiding exposure or developing chemical filtration technologies. But what if part of the solution is already inside us?


To translate this discovery into real-world solutions, authors of this study, Lindell and Patil have launched a startup, Cambiotics, aiming to develop probiotic supplements that enhance PFAS-clearing microbes in the human gut. Their long-term goal is to create microbiome-based therapies that offer a daily, safe way to guard against chemical build-up.


As we continue to uncover the complex and often surprising ways our gut microbes interact with our environment, one thing becomes clear: our microbiome isn’t just part of us - it’s part of the solution



REFERENCES

Lindell, A.E., Grießhammer, A., Michaelis, L. et al. ‘Human gut bacteria bioaccumulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.’ Nature Microbiology, July 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41564-025-02032-5

Schlezinger JJ, Biswas K, Garcia A, Heiger-Bernays WJ, Bello D. An oat fiber intervention for reducing PFAS body burden: A pilot study in male C57Bl/6 J mice. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 2025 Feb 1;495:117188.

Ye Y, Wang T, Ji J, Wang JS, Zhang Y, Sun X. Bifidobacterium breve alleviates gut-liver-axis injury caused by high-fat diet and aflatoxin B 1 in mice. Food Science and Human Wellness. 2025 Feb 1;14(2).

Kiruthika K, Suganthi A, Johnson Thangaraj Edward YS, Anandham R, Renukadevi P, Murugan M, Sahoo BK, Ikram M, Kavitha PG, Jayakanthan M. Role of lactic acid bacteria in insecticide residue degradation. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins. 2025 Feb;17(1):81-102.

Mahmood Fashandi H, Abbasi R, Mousavi Khaneghah A. The detoxification of aflatoxin M1 by Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium spp.: A review. Journal of food processing and preservation. 2018 Sep;42(9):e13704.


Press Releases and News Articles

Gut microbes could protect us from toxic ‘forever chemicals’ | University of Cambridge

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/11/pfas-dietary-fiber-forever-chemicals


Foods with plastic chemicals: laboratory.love

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