Two complementary Nature Portfolio reports describe engineered nonpathogenic E. coli programmed with a blood‑inducible circuit to secrete a barnacle‑inspired adhesive protein (CP43K) and a therapeutic factor (TFF3) at bleeding sites in the gut. In mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease the ‘living glue’ adhered to inflamed mucosa for days, reduced bleeding and inflammation, improved weight recovery and promoted mucosal repair. The approach couples autonomous pathological sensing with sustained local delivery, showing proof‑of‑concept for responsive bacterial therapeutics that target focal GI injury.