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Selected Gut Bacteria Remove PFAS Toxins in Mice, Fueling Probiotic Venture

Cambridge researchers demonstrated microbial capture and excretion of PFAS in mice, with plans to roll out probiotic supplements by 2026.

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Overview

  • Researchers tested 38 gut bacterial strains and found many could bioaccumulate PFAS—including PFOA and PFNA—across a wide concentration range.
  • Mice colonized with these microbes rapidly sequestered ingested PFAS in bacterial cells, leading to excretion via feces and reduced systemic exposure.
  • The team has yet to unravel the cellular pathway by which bacteria take up PFAS, leaving key mechanistic questions for future study.
  • Leveraging these findings, study authors founded Cambiotics to develop precision probiotic supplements targeting PFAS removal, with a first product expected in 2026.
  • Pending human trials, the researchers recommend reducing PFAS exposure by avoiding PFAS-coated cookware and using certified water filters.