Kidney stones affect millions of people worldwide, causing severe pain, urinary complications, and significant healthcare costs. One of the main culprits is oxalate, a compound found in many foods, which binds with calcium to form stones. Hyperoxaluria, a condition characterized by excessive oxalate levels in the urine, increases the risk of kidney stone formation. Unfortunately, many treatments are either invasive, costly, or come with side effects, leaving patients in need of a more effective and accessible solution.

Our modified bacteria are designed to thrive in the human gut, where they encounter and degrade oxalate using the enzyme oxalate oxidase. This enzyme initiates a redox reaction that degrades oxalate. The bacteria can be incorporated into everyday probiotic products like yogurt or supplements, offering an easy, non-invasive method to manage oxalate levels naturally. With this solution, we aim to prevent kidney stones before they form, providing a novel preventative healthcare approach.