Neuguts

Neuguts is a term used in speculative biology and science communication to denote a hypothetical class of engineered gut bacteria that could influence host physiology by altering gut metabolism and signaling pathways.

The concept is used primarily in educational contexts and science fiction to explore the possibilities and risks of microbiome engineering. It is not a defined organism or a licensed therapy in real-world medicine.

In the hypothetical framework, neuguts would carry programmable metabolic pathways enabling enhanced fermentation of dietary substrates, production of beneficial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, and targeted interaction with gut receptors. Researchers describe possible delivery via oral capsules or encapsulated probiotics, with safeguards like kill switches and auxotrophy to limit persistence.

Applications discussed include treating malnutrition, metabolic disorders, or gut-brain axis modulation, as well as serving as models for studying host-microbe interactions. Real-world developments in probiotics and live therapeutic products are related but distinct from the fictional or speculative idea of neuguts.

Ethical, biosafety, and regulatory concerns center on horizontal gene transfer, ecological impact, consent, and the potential for dual-use. No approved neuguts exist, and the term remains primarily theoretical.