Genetically engineered probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917 enhances protection against Salmonella via increased adhesion and systemic T-cell responses

Abstract The rise in antimicrobial resistance underscores the need for innovative strategies to combat gastrointestinal infections. Probiotics such as Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) offer promising options, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their protective effects remain unclear. We introduce a G66R point mutation in FimH, creating a high-binding EcN variant that more effectively prevents Salmonella Typhimurium attachment and induces a distinct host transcriptional profile, shifting toward adaptive rather than innate inflammatory signaling. In vivo, EcN G66R pretreatment significantly reduced intestinal colonization, fecal shedding, and systemic spread, and prevented splenic enlargement compared with EcN WT . Protection was associated with a marked expansion of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, essential for clearing intracellular pathogens. EcN G66R further enhanced “readiness” in the spleen under non-infected conditions, without adverse effects on host physiology. EcN G66R thus functions as a dual-action probiotic—improving competitive exclusion while priming cytotoxic T-cell-mediated protection—and provides a promising platform for developing next-generation microbe-based therapies.