Potential of scientific and biotechnological applications of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917: Systematic review

Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) is a non-pathogenic probiotic bacterial strain, which was isolated in 1917. This bacterium naturally inhabits the human intestine and is used therapeutically in medications, such as Mutaflor, for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, such as ulcerative colitis, diarrhea, and diverticular disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically synthesize the available evidence on efficacy, performance, and functionality described in the literature for the scientific and biotechnological applications reported for the EcN strain. Methodology: A systematic search was conducted using four databases Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane between 2021 and 2025, in accordance with the PRISMA statement. A total of 259 articles were identified, of which 21 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results. The findings of this study confirm the classic probiotic efficacy of EcN and revealed expanded scientific applications, including systematic and dermal effects. In the field of biotechnology, its role as a highly manipulable microbial chassis is validated, demonstrating outstanding performance in genetic engineering for ultrasensitive biosensors, efficient bioproduction using alternative substrates, and the development of targeted therapies and probiotic vaccines. However, limitations associated with the pks genomic island were identified. Conclusions: EcN is a versatile platform with transformative potential in biomedicine and biotechnology. Its future development requires rigorously addressing safety gaps through longitudinal studies and progressing toward later-phase controlled clinical trials to consolidate its applicability.